tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238174599083558093.post32329302015868341..comments2023-10-17T07:29:38.379-05:00Comments on Writing in a Vortex: MatthewL.A. Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729129827211991040noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238174599083558093.post-65967391140795419342008-06-07T20:52:00.000-05:002008-06-07T20:52:00.000-05:00"Bless the beasts and the children for in this wor..."Bless the beasts and the children for in this world they have no choice, who have no voice... Light their way when the darkness surrounds them; give them love, let it shine all around them."<BR/><BR/>A very tender memorial of childhood. dcDixie@dcreliefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11558671709412200904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238174599083558093.post-26170001841179156212008-05-29T08:57:00.000-05:002008-05-29T08:57:00.000-05:00That, my dear friend, you'll find out. After a pa...That, my dear friend, you'll find out. After a past-life reading and a stiff drink :)L.A. Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11729129827211991040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238174599083558093.post-73191554650486585312008-05-29T00:01:00.000-05:002008-05-29T00:01:00.000-05:00I had a "Matthew" in my 5th grade, too. Except, hi...I had a "Matthew" in my 5th grade, too. Except, his name was Monty (I remember his last name, too). At the time, I was repulsed (I must have Howard Huges DNA somewhere). Later, I just felt sorry for him. And I wondered if he KNEW why he was an outcast. What if someone had handed him a list that said: "Don't do these things and you'll be okay" if he'd have followed the list? <BR/><BR/>I think there's a social awareness which comes with maturity that cannot be taught. Everyone has to get it when they get it.<BR/><BR/>I think, at one time or another, we all asume the "outcast" mantle. For whatever reason, we each take our turn at standing on the precipice of conformity. It's one of those universal themes which repeats itself. (Remember 7th grade?) The need to fit in, to take our place, drags at us until we give in. <BR/><BR/>I wonder which is the braver choice; to conform and put aside our idiosyncratic behavior or to retain the ticks and eccentricities which make us unique?<BR/><BR/><BR/>As always, LA, you've broached another thought provoking blog. What made you think of this childhood almost-friend?Sherry A Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03206772322781391022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238174599083558093.post-79441531578170617192008-05-28T17:28:00.000-05:002008-05-28T17:28:00.000-05:00S,What a moving post. Sometimes I don't recognize...S,<BR/>What a moving post. Sometimes I don't recognize the person I was. I was never one of the mean ones, but the girl I was back then was too afraid to speak up, just as guilty IMHO. Thanks so much for sharing.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Marilyn :)L.A. Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11729129827211991040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238174599083558093.post-42181727040163882602008-05-27T22:50:00.000-05:002008-05-27T22:50:00.000-05:00What a beautiful and haunting post, L.A. (and happ...What a beautiful and haunting post, L.A. (and happy belated birthday :).Marilyn Branthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05303846770348840645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238174599083558093.post-65884612264247033212008-05-26T12:05:00.000-05:002008-05-26T12:05:00.000-05:00Your words made me flip back through my childhood ...Your words made me flip back through my childhood memories -- there was a girl in middle school. I can't even remember anything specific about her, you know, what would set her apart. It wasn't exactly like I ran with the 'cool' crowd. I wore a 'I love Jesus' pin on every garment I wore in 7th grade (and this wasn't exactly a time to wave religion about -- so hence why I wasn't cool). But I remember that this gal just wasn't accepted. I can only remember her first name, Kathy, nothing else. Whether we had a class together or not, I couldn't say. BUT I do know I would have passed her in the hall, I would have shared a girls' locker room with her. Did I talk to her? Did I acknowledge her in anyway? I can't remember doing that either, which means I probably didn't. <BR/><BR/>Now, that I have kids of my own (those who have never quite fit into the 'cool' world), it makes me much more cognizant of those kids. <BR/><BR/>My son went through something similar when he was in 5th grade; where he became the class outcast. Why? Who knows. Did he do things that much odder than the rest of the 10 year olds. Probably not. But an outcast he was. Did his teacher catch it? Nope, as a matter of fact she was completely clueless until the whole class imploded one day. It's a hard thing to forgive a teacher for -- missing your kid is on the outside. <BR/><BR/>I hadn't thought about Kathy in years, but I'm sure our lack of acceptance shaped her, altered her life. I know it has in my son's case. The sweet, open, I can accept anyone boy of 5th grade was forever gone at the end of that year. While he still has a gentle heart, he guards it much closer now. And he wears a sarcastic shield design to keep people out. <BR/><BR/>What a huge impact our words and actions can have. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing the memory, LA and making us all relive a moment we should have done better.K.M. Saint Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10497196465431986957noreply@blogger.com