All good things come to an end, as do all bad things. No matter how much Jenni continued to bug and annoy me, I refused to talk about it with Vicki. However, she soon discovered what a twit Jenni was being. One of the funniest moments of my life was when Vicki dumped her milk over Jenni's head, in front of the entire school cafeteria! Jenni wasn't much of a problem after that.
Vicki and I got along so much better after that. No more problems, no more 'situations' that needed to be taken care of, just two people as happy as could be. Well, I say no problems, I guess I mean no problems between the two of us. Because something truly tragic and frightening happened in 1988. My Senior year of HS was starting when I received the shocking news.
No matter how much I hated her, no matter how much I began to loathe her. I would never wish this upon her, or anyone for that matter. Well, I'm ashamed to say I had a brief 'serves her right' thought for a moment buried deep deep down, but that was extinguished in the twinkling of an eye. No one deserves this, no one should have to go through this with a loved one. Yes, 1988 was the year Jenni was abducted.
The news really hit close to home. True, we were no longer friends, but it was still someone I knew and this was simply terrifying. There were many days I wondered what became of her. What horrible things could be happening to her? Was she murdered?
So many mixed emotions. All the times she humiliated me or called me stupid in front of her friends, I still have the scar from the fire-engine she hit me with in kindergarten. And who would tell me if anything was ever found out? I couldn't imagine Jenni's mother calling me, she hated me. And her friend Andrea hated me even more so. Was it wrong for me to be so concerned about someone who hated me?
Part 6 of 30
Monday, April 5, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Love & Loss (Part 4)
I'll tell you about this tragedy taking place, but first want to include a bit of additional background information. With the hope you'll better understand why this is so traumatic to me. You see, Kenny was right. In 1987 I WAS a mopey person. Vicki was a big help in alleviating me of that. Once again I had someone I could rely on to be there for me. Someone to listen to me, and fill the empty void in my life.
Vicki, I have never before set my eyes upon a woman as beautiful as her. She was as tall as I was and had light brown hair, considerably much lighter than Jenni's. She was into art and photography and fashion. I claimed it was the reason she fell for me. Of course Jenni would snidely remark that was more a form of bad taste rather than good fashion sense. Jenni never did get my jokes.
Sure, Jenni was still in my life. Not as a friend. Not by any stretch of the imagination. We were in the same word processing class every year and 1987 was no different. It seemed every day Jenni thought of some new way to irritate or annoy me. I can't recall the number of times I complained about her to Vicki. Jenni did this, Jenni did that. I'm telling you, Jenni was awful!
Anyone else use these old style Word Processors? Yes, that's my teacher in the picture. I actually got her to pose for this. Vicki inspired me to be more bold when it came to taking pictures. I never would have brought a camera to school, much less ask anyone to pose for me if it weren't for Vicki.
Two things happened to make my life miserable. Vicki was getting tired of hearing me go on and on about Jenni, and somehow Jenni figured out Vicki was getting annoyed listening to me complain. Sure, call me crazy but I'm certain Jenni decided to drive a wedge between Vicki and I, just because she was evil. She wanted me to feel as miserable as she was. It couldn't have been jealousy, she broke up with me!
Part 5 of 30
Vicki, I have never before set my eyes upon a woman as beautiful as her. She was as tall as I was and had light brown hair, considerably much lighter than Jenni's. She was into art and photography and fashion. I claimed it was the reason she fell for me. Of course Jenni would snidely remark that was more a form of bad taste rather than good fashion sense. Jenni never did get my jokes.
Sure, Jenni was still in my life. Not as a friend. Not by any stretch of the imagination. We were in the same word processing class every year and 1987 was no different. It seemed every day Jenni thought of some new way to irritate or annoy me. I can't recall the number of times I complained about her to Vicki. Jenni did this, Jenni did that. I'm telling you, Jenni was awful!
Anyone else use these old style Word Processors? Yes, that's my teacher in the picture. I actually got her to pose for this. Vicki inspired me to be more bold when it came to taking pictures. I never would have brought a camera to school, much less ask anyone to pose for me if it weren't for Vicki.
Two things happened to make my life miserable. Vicki was getting tired of hearing me go on and on about Jenni, and somehow Jenni figured out Vicki was getting annoyed listening to me complain. Sure, call me crazy but I'm certain Jenni decided to drive a wedge between Vicki and I, just because she was evil. She wanted me to feel as miserable as she was. It couldn't have been jealousy, she broke up with me!
Part 5 of 30
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Love & Loss (Part 3)
Then the inevitable happened. Why is it such a bad idea to forge a relationship so early on? Because you are still discovering yourself. As Jenni and I did so we realized we were drawing apart. I became more of a joker as she became a serious stick in the mud. Our relationship soured and we grew to despise each other.
When you break up with someone, you are supposed to do that ritual of exchanging back personal items. "I want my records back" is the classic line. I asked Jenni for any of my writing's I had lent her and she asked for nothing back. She said she doubted she would have left anything of value at my house. I suppose I should have reminded her she wrote an entry in her diary at my house and accidentally left it over.
As the rivalry between the two of us deepened, I couldn't help but to wonder if she forgot about her diary and thought she lost it, or the entries in the diary were not that important to her as they mostly centered around me. Yes, I was a cad. I read her diary. What do you expect? I was 16.
In 1987 the big news was Reagan challenging Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. But for me, there was even bigger news. Yes, 1987 was when I met Vicki. Kenny told me about her and invited me along next time him and Laura went out. I was hesitant, for obvious reasons. It seemed he was trying to 'set me up'. He claimed I was mopey since Jenni and I broke up.
You probably think the great sorrow suddenly filling my life has something to do with Jenni and nothing with Vicki. But you'd be wrong... so wrong. The bits about Jenni have been to describe my thoughts and feelings leading up to the tragedy. Of course I'll describe it, if I can do so without breaking down in uncontrollable tears.
Part 4 of 30
When you break up with someone, you are supposed to do that ritual of exchanging back personal items. "I want my records back" is the classic line. I asked Jenni for any of my writing's I had lent her and she asked for nothing back. She said she doubted she would have left anything of value at my house. I suppose I should have reminded her she wrote an entry in her diary at my house and accidentally left it over.
As the rivalry between the two of us deepened, I couldn't help but to wonder if she forgot about her diary and thought she lost it, or the entries in the diary were not that important to her as they mostly centered around me. Yes, I was a cad. I read her diary. What do you expect? I was 16.
In 1987 the big news was Reagan challenging Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. But for me, there was even bigger news. Yes, 1987 was when I met Vicki. Kenny told me about her and invited me along next time him and Laura went out. I was hesitant, for obvious reasons. It seemed he was trying to 'set me up'. He claimed I was mopey since Jenni and I broke up.
You probably think the great sorrow suddenly filling my life has something to do with Jenni and nothing with Vicki. But you'd be wrong... so wrong. The bits about Jenni have been to describe my thoughts and feelings leading up to the tragedy. Of course I'll describe it, if I can do so without breaking down in uncontrollable tears.
Part 4 of 30
Friday, April 2, 2010
Love & Loss (Part 2)
I've always heard kids like to torment and tease each other as a form of endearment. That may be true, because Jenni and I became somewhat friends for a few years. But in 1978 (at the end of 2nd grade), her father took a job in Florida. This was the first time Jenni left me.
It shouldn't be hard to spot me. I'm almost exactly in the middle. As usual, almost by myself. Not hard to spot Jenni either. She's the one who looks like she's up to no good.
When you are a child things seem unchangeable. Whether someone arrives in your life or leaves, it seems written in stone for good. Flash forward 7 years. I was beginning my sophomore year in HS. Leaving my home-room I discovered Jenni was in the home-room right next to me. I wasn't certain if I should be glad or sad. Our relationship was always strained, at best.
Anyone that knows me, knows I'm the quiet and shy type. Perhaps it was this, or I was just using that as an excuse, but I decided not to call out to her. I decided it was perhaps for the best. Chances were she was going to be as annoying as she always had been. I headed towards my first class when she called out to me, using my nickname of course. The nickname she knew I was not keen on.
Sometimes I think back and wish I had kept going to my first hour class, I should have just ignored her. But then again, there were many good memories I had with her. To be honest, we became really good friends. So much so, that by 1986 you could almost say we were dating. My Junior year of HS we were a recognized couple.
Part 3 of 30
It shouldn't be hard to spot me. I'm almost exactly in the middle. As usual, almost by myself. Not hard to spot Jenni either. She's the one who looks like she's up to no good.
When you are a child things seem unchangeable. Whether someone arrives in your life or leaves, it seems written in stone for good. Flash forward 7 years. I was beginning my sophomore year in HS. Leaving my home-room I discovered Jenni was in the home-room right next to me. I wasn't certain if I should be glad or sad. Our relationship was always strained, at best.
Anyone that knows me, knows I'm the quiet and shy type. Perhaps it was this, or I was just using that as an excuse, but I decided not to call out to her. I decided it was perhaps for the best. Chances were she was going to be as annoying as she always had been. I headed towards my first class when she called out to me, using my nickname of course. The nickname she knew I was not keen on.
Sometimes I think back and wish I had kept going to my first hour class, I should have just ignored her. But then again, there were many good memories I had with her. To be honest, we became really good friends. So much so, that by 1986 you could almost say we were dating. My Junior year of HS we were a recognized couple.
Part 3 of 30
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Love & Loss (Part 1)
Every feel like you've been walking around in a daze? Feels like that for me today. Sometimes it takes horrible news to awaken you. Is that for the best? How can it be? Yes, I received terrible shocking news, the kind that just makes you want to cry. But how can I even begin to explain it?
Back in school, many many years ago. My classmates called me Erick. Don't ask, it was a weird situation. But to explain whats going on in my life I almost have to start at the beginning. I mean the VERY beginning. That's where I first met Jenni. The girl I would later love, and love to hate. I told you, it's kind of complicated.
Jenni and I went to kindergarten together. She introduced herself to me by smacking me in the head with a toy fire-engine. I don't really recall why she did it. Knowing how lippy I was back then, I probably said something that offended her. I learned quickly it didn't take much to offend her.
If Jenni could find a way to annoy me, she would. I'd insist she called me by my given name and she'd insist on calling me Erick along with everyone else. Knowing how much that annoyed me. Every Friday, the teacher would reward one student by letting them bring in one song to play during nap-time. Jenni would bring in Gordon Lightfoot - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Knowing how much I hated that song.
Even now it's hard for me to listen to this song. Kind of makes me want to cry because of the topic of the song, and the emotion that's attached to it for me.
Part 2 of 30
Back in school, many many years ago. My classmates called me Erick. Don't ask, it was a weird situation. But to explain whats going on in my life I almost have to start at the beginning. I mean the VERY beginning. That's where I first met Jenni. The girl I would later love, and love to hate. I told you, it's kind of complicated.
Jenni and I went to kindergarten together. She introduced herself to me by smacking me in the head with a toy fire-engine. I don't really recall why she did it. Knowing how lippy I was back then, I probably said something that offended her. I learned quickly it didn't take much to offend her.
If Jenni could find a way to annoy me, she would. I'd insist she called me by my given name and she'd insist on calling me Erick along with everyone else. Knowing how much that annoyed me. Every Friday, the teacher would reward one student by letting them bring in one song to play during nap-time. Jenni would bring in Gordon Lightfoot - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Knowing how much I hated that song.
Even now it's hard for me to listen to this song. Kind of makes me want to cry because of the topic of the song, and the emotion that's attached to it for me.
Part 2 of 30
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Travel Preperations for London
Well, May is fast approaching and with it my first trip outside the US. Well, I did travel shortly into Canada a few years back. I guess I should say this will be my first trip off the continent. I'm really stoked and can't wait for my travels to begin.
As this is my first major trip, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with what I need to do before I leave. Then I need to worry about what I'll actually do once I get to London.
I'm starting to work on two lists. One is a list of things to take care of before heading overseas, and the other list is things to do once I arrive. Following are the few lists I have made so far. (I'll likely keep editing this post as I think of more things or other items are suggested by others.
Things to do before leaving.
Receive and make sure Passport is in order. [Check]
Make flight reservations. [Check]
Make hotel reservations. [Leads on a few nice places]
Prepare check-list of things I'll need. [Work in progress]
Finish itinerary. [Research ongoing]
Purchase luggage. [I'm thinking I'll need one suitcase and a backpack]
Things to do once I arrive.
Visit Paris? - Look into Chunnel travel.
Eiffel Tower
Arc de Triomphe
Louvre
London / England
Thames
London Eye
British Museum
Tower of London
Big Ben
Cardiff?
Dublin?
Yes, it's a work in progress. I will flesh out my plans and am seriously thinking of keeping up my blog as I travel. I'll have to see how economical it will be to bring my laptop computer or the availability of internet cafes.
As always, feel free and please do leave comments or suggestions.
As this is my first major trip, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with what I need to do before I leave. Then I need to worry about what I'll actually do once I get to London.
I'm starting to work on two lists. One is a list of things to take care of before heading overseas, and the other list is things to do once I arrive. Following are the few lists I have made so far. (I'll likely keep editing this post as I think of more things or other items are suggested by others.
Things to do before leaving.
Receive and make sure Passport is in order. [Check]
Make flight reservations. [Check]
Make hotel reservations. [Leads on a few nice places]
Prepare check-list of things I'll need. [Work in progress]
Finish itinerary. [Research ongoing]
Purchase luggage. [I'm thinking I'll need one suitcase and a backpack]
Things to do once I arrive.
Visit Paris? - Look into Chunnel travel.
Eiffel Tower
Arc de Triomphe
Louvre
London / England
Thames
London Eye
British Museum
Tower of London
Big Ben
Cardiff?
Dublin?
Yes, it's a work in progress. I will flesh out my plans and am seriously thinking of keeping up my blog as I travel. I'll have to see how economical it will be to bring my laptop computer or the availability of internet cafes.
As always, feel free and please do leave comments or suggestions.
Friday, February 5, 2010
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