I was standing outside barefoot a few minutes ago. The front yard was littered with orange and brown leaves from the neighborhood trees, yellow ones from our cottonwood. The wind was blowing the leaves around in the street. I stood in the middle of the yard, wiggled my toes in the grass, looked around the park across the street.
I like this time of year.
Depending on how long you’ve been reading HIKH, you might remember my post about my friend Desiree, who died when she was 12. In today’s Wichita Eagle, there is an article mentioning her death. She was killed when their car was hit by a train at a poorly marked train crossing. And still, no changes have been made to make that crossing safer.
I had picked up today’s paper and this article was a the top of the front page. In the middle of the article is her picture. It was like seeing a ghost.
I still think about her every once and a while. To see her face again made me spine tingle. She shouldn’t have died like that. She would have done so much with her life.
One of my favorite people in the world, my friend Luke wrote a letter to the editor of the Wichita Eagle and it got published today. To completely break copyright law, I thought I’d republish it here, since I agree with what he said.
*The horrific terrorist attacks came about because of some ignorance and refusal to even try to understand someone who is different. Don’t we, as Americans, realize that we are not helping the situation when we put stickers on our cars showing the character Calvin “relieving” himself on the name “Bin Laden”?
Whatever happened to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”? Are we really improving the situation by bombing Afghanistan? We were outraged when we realized planes were slammed into our national landmarks on purpose. Do we think that Afghan civilians appreciate our dropping bombs on them?
Of course, there is always the argument that Afghanistan deserves it, because its leaders won’t hand over Osama bin Laden. Do the Afghans not deserve to know on what grounds we are accusing him? The United States has the audacity to deny them the information! So they should just “trust us,” the same people dropping bombs on them?
I do not support the Sept. 11 attacks, nor do I think that what bin Laden is doing is right. But President Bush has lost my vote and confidence.
LUKE X. MARTIN Wichita*
I called Luke a few minutes ago and he had only been up about half an hour and hadn’t yet read the paper.
I love this kid.
I scanned a dollar today. Next time I use my scanner, I will find that dollar and be happy.
Today I had one of those assertive, I-can-do-anything days. I was constructive and helpful.
A year ago, I’d have never called this typical Katie behavior. Six months ago, I’d still have had a shred of doubt. But today…today, Katie is a capable, motivated, energetic kid.
It’s so strange because a part of me still thinks like the submissive introvert I used to be. I feel shitzophrenic sometimes because I still split my identity up into different personalities.
One day, I’ll let go of all my old selves and learn to live in the moment.
I often think of
the sweet gig I could have right
now. Cue the facepalm.
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