In 2018, I am finally going to start a blog working through 365 days of impacts on my life. This is meant to tell the story of who I came to be in bits and pieces. This exercise is meant to show we are all shaped by the people, situations, circumstances, joys and sorrows that have impacted our lives. Sometimes we are influenced just as much through learning about what we don't want to be like, than what we turned out to be. Sometimes it is a stranger who makes a lasting impression on us, and we may never know their name. Sometimes it is those who've been the worst to us that actually teach us the BEST lessons. If nothing else, since I don't have kids, this will serve as an autobiography of experiences that have shaped my character since May 3 1965. I will try to include pictures where I needed. Some will not need pictures. As I enter my 5th decade, I can look back and say that In my teens (as most are) I was extremely insecure, unfocused and had stage f...
In 5th grade I was "going" with Mark Nietubyc. You remember what it was like to 'go with' someone - that basically meant you were exclusive to that person. In 5th grade, at age 10/11, at least in the 70s - to 'go with' someone was the closest you could get to dating without being able to drive yet. So, I am completely obsessed with Mark, and I write him a love note. I had never even kissed him but I was obsessed. Now, get your mind out of the gutter. This was NOT the equivalent of kids today sexting before they are to young to know the repercussions - this was a 'roses are red, violets are blue' type of love note. I basically expressed my love for him and how obsessed I was - that I could not stop thinking about him. Mark then proceeds to lose said note - probably before he even read it. But it wasn't long before everyone knew just how obsessed I was with Mark. Turns out, he lost the note in front of Mr. Zaranek's gym class door - the one we all have to pass to go in and out for recess. Mr. Zaranek was one of these over zealous gym teachers who basically has never left his teens mentally and lives to humiliate students. He was evile. Mr. Zaranek desides to READ THE NOTE to my gym class, of which both Mark and I are a part of. You may remember having specific spots to sit on the hardwoods in your gymnasium, consistently spaced out, ususally in alphabetical order. To be nice (or so he said) he decided to omit the names of the author and the subject of the note. I turned so red, I'm pretty sure my head would have blown off from embarrassment. Every kid on the floor that day knew who wrote it and who it was about. This was the worst day of my 10-year-old life. I literally died right there on that gynasium floor. This students, is what you call a negative impact. But I never did that again and sometimes the most evil people teach you the best lessons.
