Ok Ally you know you make me think of things. When I was in 2nd grade the teacher had to leave the classroom. She told us all to put our heads on our desks and be quiet while she was gone. Evidently when she came back I was the only one who had listened and all my classmates were making a ruckus. The reason I know about this is that the teacher called my Mom and told her she was doing something right. My Mom would repeat this story and I pretty much stayed a goody two shoes until in 9th grade when I got an attitude grade on my report card of C. I summoned up the courage to ask my teacher why and he said because I was too quiet and didn’t participate in class. Sooo I started being more out-going, raising my hand when I knew the answer and basically being more loud. I changed that grade to an A. Moral of the story you are going to get confused often in life. In my much later working years I got the moniker “By the Book Mary”. Well I was in charge of a thousand people’s paychecks so I was okay being someone people could trust. I never lie and living in a world gone mad surrounded by lies is almost more than I can take most days.
Besides the pain of learning to really look in the mirror and evaluate myself, the greatest shock in my life was when the religious community that had formed me turned a blind eye to the glaring lifestyle of evil that characterized Trump—a lifestyle completely antithetical to our purported values—and supported him en masse. The same people who had excoriated Clinton for his sins, famous pastors who intoned about the decay of civilization when led by evil men, they revealed that their values were rooted in power and not in love, and a galaxy away from the founder of our faith who championed the marginalized and condemned the powerful.
You have a voice, Ally, cultivated by hard experiences, that is so valuable. Thank you for taking the time to craft your essays. Every bit of truth and pushback any of us can proclaim or do during these dark days, all of it matters. I have no idea how evolution really works, but I choose to believe that everything I do, whether supporting causes financially or talking to my grandsons about why respecting women and the marginalized fulfills the law of love, all of this in some way is healing our collective DNA, positioning our species to move towards a world characterized by love and justice and peace. And whether it matters in large or small ways (as we reckon these things), it is all I can do. As Gandalf says to Frodo: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” Amen.
Excellent read and insight. We are damaging our children for life. This has to stop. I never thought my country could be so callous. Vote them all out. Imprison the perpetrators and enablers! Save the children, ALL of them!! ❤️
Your recollections are so clear. Mine are fuzzy around grade school. Other than Miss Tomiska playing Blowin' in the Wind on her guitar (3rd grade), my school life began (in my memory) in 6th. I love how little you was so enthusiastic. I know you wanted approval. We all do. And I actually think the teachers who found fault were damaged themselves. Jealous, maybe. Or frightened of a mirror that revealed too much about them. But your light is and was undeniable.
Ally this evokes so many memories. I was that kid. My home life wasn't that chaotic, but it was chaotic. I had grownup worries on my mind, and it seemed to make me A Problem for some teachers (and some kids too, honestly). I really, REALLY resonated with this, and like you: my kid experience makes me want to protect ALL the kids. The number of kids that have adult worries should be ZERO... instead, it's millions.
Great lead in. I think it points to the increasing number of broken families even those that are complete and broken morally. Many of world's problem today is just that. It will get worst because there is a lack of community charism.
It’s truly shocking what our country has come to be known for these days. When I immigrated here 43 years ago as a child, America was a haven to so many of us and a welcoming home. I have to say though, as much as I’m shocked, I’m not surprised given the man that is in office “leading” the country. This is a man who was involved in the biggest sex and child trafficking scandal of all time for decades. He’s a known pedophile and rapist. Not to mention sexist racist narcissist and fascist.
Ok Ally you know you make me think of things. When I was in 2nd grade the teacher had to leave the classroom. She told us all to put our heads on our desks and be quiet while she was gone. Evidently when she came back I was the only one who had listened and all my classmates were making a ruckus. The reason I know about this is that the teacher called my Mom and told her she was doing something right. My Mom would repeat this story and I pretty much stayed a goody two shoes until in 9th grade when I got an attitude grade on my report card of C. I summoned up the courage to ask my teacher why and he said because I was too quiet and didn’t participate in class. Sooo I started being more out-going, raising my hand when I knew the answer and basically being more loud. I changed that grade to an A. Moral of the story you are going to get confused often in life. In my much later working years I got the moniker “By the Book Mary”. Well I was in charge of a thousand people’s paychecks so I was okay being someone people could trust. I never lie and living in a world gone mad surrounded by lies is almost more than I can take most days.
Same!
Besides the pain of learning to really look in the mirror and evaluate myself, the greatest shock in my life was when the religious community that had formed me turned a blind eye to the glaring lifestyle of evil that characterized Trump—a lifestyle completely antithetical to our purported values—and supported him en masse. The same people who had excoriated Clinton for his sins, famous pastors who intoned about the decay of civilization when led by evil men, they revealed that their values were rooted in power and not in love, and a galaxy away from the founder of our faith who championed the marginalized and condemned the powerful.
You have a voice, Ally, cultivated by hard experiences, that is so valuable. Thank you for taking the time to craft your essays. Every bit of truth and pushback any of us can proclaim or do during these dark days, all of it matters. I have no idea how evolution really works, but I choose to believe that everything I do, whether supporting causes financially or talking to my grandsons about why respecting women and the marginalized fulfills the law of love, all of this in some way is healing our collective DNA, positioning our species to move towards a world characterized by love and justice and peace. And whether it matters in large or small ways (as we reckon these things), it is all I can do. As Gandalf says to Frodo: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” Amen.
Excellent read and insight. We are damaging our children for life. This has to stop. I never thought my country could be so callous. Vote them all out. Imprison the perpetrators and enablers! Save the children, ALL of them!! ❤️
Your recollections are so clear. Mine are fuzzy around grade school. Other than Miss Tomiska playing Blowin' in the Wind on her guitar (3rd grade), my school life began (in my memory) in 6th. I love how little you was so enthusiastic. I know you wanted approval. We all do. And I actually think the teachers who found fault were damaged themselves. Jealous, maybe. Or frightened of a mirror that revealed too much about them. But your light is and was undeniable.
Ally, great storytelling. Good for Mrs. D. xo
Ally this evokes so many memories. I was that kid. My home life wasn't that chaotic, but it was chaotic. I had grownup worries on my mind, and it seemed to make me A Problem for some teachers (and some kids too, honestly). I really, REALLY resonated with this, and like you: my kid experience makes me want to protect ALL the kids. The number of kids that have adult worries should be ZERO... instead, it's millions.
Thank you for this great piece.
Great lead in. I think it points to the increasing number of broken families even those that are complete and broken morally. Many of world's problem today is just that. It will get worst because there is a lack of community charism.
It’s truly shocking what our country has come to be known for these days. When I immigrated here 43 years ago as a child, America was a haven to so many of us and a welcoming home. I have to say though, as much as I’m shocked, I’m not surprised given the man that is in office “leading” the country. This is a man who was involved in the biggest sex and child trafficking scandal of all time for decades. He’s a known pedophile and rapist. Not to mention sexist racist narcissist and fascist.
ps- you were adorable as a 6 year old 💖
This is so great. And I just want to pick up your 6-year-old self and hug you.