The Median Sib

Another teacher mentioned today that there was an article in the newspaper I should read. When I said I didn’t get the newspaper, she told me I could check online - that it would probably be on the newspaper’s website. I went to the newspaper’s website - something I’ve probably only done a couple of times before. I never got around to looking for the article because as soon as the site came up on the screen, I noticed that they had a button to click for local stories. One of the stories was about a string of nearby home burglaries. Nearby burglaries concern me. So I clicked that link instead.

It seems that an alert police officer noticed a car being driven erratically and heading away from a home that had been burglarized. He stopped the car, questioned the young driver and found some of the stolen jewelry inside. The guy had burglarized five nearby homes - stealing jewelry, bottles of wine and DVDs. He was charged with five counts of aggravated burglary and, as of yesterday afternoon, has not made bail.

I felt sick when I read the next part of the article because it listed the full name and address of the “man” who had committed the crimes. It was an 18-year old former student of mine. A boy I’ve known since he was in kindergarten when his older sister was in my class. A couple years later, when he reached second grade, he also was in my class. Smart - a handful - and the apple of his mother’s eye. He was one of those students that made a lasting impression - a student and family I will always remember.

My heart is now broken for him and his family. I can only imagine what might have led to his actions. His mother and older sister must be light years beyond devastated and humilated. And I wonder how he is feeling…an 18-year old in an adult jail?

What do you do when someone you know has been arrested? It’s a small community - everyone knows. Do you send a card to him or his mom? Do you call or visit? Do you write an email? If so, what do you say? Is there ettiquette for handling something like this.

I wrote several months ago about how I have each child I work with keep a journal. After the children write their entries, I always write a response to each one. It has been going very well. Kids have even ASKED to write in their journals lately, and they’re always eager to read my replies.

Yesterday one small group of children came into my room and sat at the table with me. One of them, Billy (name is changed, of course), sat across from me. He propped his face on his hands, elbows on the table, eyes half closed.

“What’s up, Billy?” I asked.

“I’m tired,” he replied.

“Why don’t you write about it in your journal?” I suggested.
He did. I loved the result! Notice he has a thermometer to gauge his mood (measured from 100 at the top to -100 at the bottom). The petals on the flower are another indication of his feelings. When the thermometer is in the bottom numbers, the petals fall off the flower and pile up at the bottom.

Take a couple minutes to study the journal entry. I think it’s wonderfully expressive. By the way, he was smiling by the time he left my classroom, and when he came in today, I asked how he was feeling.

His reply: “About 60.”

Thirteen Questions for Thursday

Terrell at Alone on a Limb had these thirteen questions last week. So I’m tackling them this week.

1. What is your earliest memory? Having to leave my beloved scooter (favorite toy) behind when we moved from Kentucky to Georgia because there was no room for it in the moving van. I believe I was around 4 years old at the time.
2. What was your longest hike? Probably the 8 miles that I hiked along the tundra in Alaska’s Denali Park this past summer.
3. When were you most alone? Immediately after my second divorce. I felt like such a failure - and didn’t want to be around anyone.
4. Describe a carefree moment of your life: Dancing with a guy I dated for awhile who was a wonderful dancer — whirling around the dance floor was so much fun!
5. What has been your most daring moment? Snowtubing a few years ago — taking off on a run, jumping onto the tube on my stomach and flying down the hill - almost dizzy speeds it seemed - then up the hill on the lift and soaring down on the tube - again and again. Such fun for this middle-aged lady!
6. Describe what you admire about someone you consider a personal hero/heroine: I admire President Bush because he has held firm to his beliefs amid incredible pressure from the democrats and the press.
7. What is your most interesting/outstanding talent? I love to dance and am fairly good at it - although I rarely do it anymore.
8. You have won a free seven day airfare to the destination of your choice. Where and why? I’d go to Italy because I love Italian history and culture - cuisine, too.
9. Climb aboard my time/space machine. You get one turn and must return after the equivalent of a week’s visit. Where, when, and why? I would go 25 years into the future to see what lies ahead for my children and grandchildren. I worry about what they may face. Maybe the trip will reassure me, or maybe it will terrify me. On second thought, though, it would probably be best NOT to know the future. So I’ll change my mind and say I’d like to go back to when my mother and father were young - see what their lives were like.
10. You have been appointed executor of my $10,000,000 charitable bequest. How will you use it? I’d keep a million for myself, give my two children a million each, a million to each of my six siblings, and a million to my mother. Whew! Spent THAT ten million fast!
11. What is your proudest accomplishment? It sounds cheesy, but my two children. They’re wonderful young adults. I’m incredibly proud of them and the great relationship I have with them and their respective spouses.
12. What question/assignment would you add to this meme? I’d add “What do you want to accomplish in the next year?
13. Write a seven line poem (diamante) about a person, place, or thing this meme has brought to mind. Use this form:

Waltz

Graceful Movement

Swinging, Smiling, Whirling

Keeping Time Making Memories

Circling, Rising, Falling

Happy Fun

Dance

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

1. Wendy

2. KDubs

3. Joan

4. Terrell

5. Jane

6. better safe than sorry

7. LadyBug

8. Barbara

9. Stacie

10. Chickadee

11. Nicole

12. Thirdee

13. D

14. Karen

15. Uisce

16. Melissa

17. Norma

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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