Spent some time today with that friend of mine from yesterday’s post. He and his wife were here for a bit. I couldn’t even really look at him. He called me yesterday and asked to confide in me as he needed to talk. But then today, I felt kinda weird sitting there with him and his wife. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just tired and over-thinking as usual. It just felt weird…like I knew too much.

Punky boy is drooling EVERYWHERE! I hope those two top teeth come through soon! Poor guy is in pain and constantly biting and sucking on things! (Thank God, we’re not nursing anymore! Ouch!) He is just so damn cute! Tonight he needed a bath as he was filthy from scooting around everywhere. We changed him out of his clothes and his diaper in his bedroom, and he scooted right onto the bathroom and sat down in front of the tub. His bare little bottom was so cute!

Had an interesting conversation at supper tonight about politics. I never in a million years would have dreamt when I was growing up that I would overlook an affair and actually vote for someone who overlooked their marriage vows; however, as an adult, I think daily of how I wish Bill Clinton could run again in 08 so we could at least keep anymore buffoons out of office. I never even hesitate in my liking of that man and his leadership…never thought I’d be like that as a kid. Just a random thought. I guess as you get older, you weigh the whole person and not just an aspect of that person or his/her beliefs, values, actions, etc……..plus as you get older, you realize that affairs are not that uncommon in the political world! Hehehehee! (Or the real world for that matter!)

I have to scoot upstairs for a bit…………..but will be back down in awhile to finish off this entry today……………

ok, so I am back for a bit. Punky is crying so daddy is consoling him.

I’ve been bummed the last several days. WARNING long story ahead!
My best friend up here has moved away. I’m bummed. I didn’t talk with him everyday…but now that I KNOW he’s not here. I am IMMENSELY bummed. I first met Art 8 years ago this month when I started teaching at my current school. He’s twice my age, so I never really had any boundaries with him…nor he with I. We talk about EVERYTHING and anything……and I do mean talk. Art LOVES to talk (and I love to listen to his New York accent) That’s what he does best! In fact, when he retired, I read a poem that I wrote at the retirement dinner. (ME! I got up and read aloud in front of over 200 people! I HATE reading or speaking in public……..but for Art…..I’d do anything.—But to even dramatize the situation more……I was 5 months pregnant and could not have any wine before getting up to speak!)

How Great Our Art

He came from the East,
All fresh-faced and young.
Great Art came to teach,
He thought it’d be fun!

New York was his home.
The Yankees his team.
Talk of his town
Still makes his eyes gleam.

And despite many years
In the Land of the Lake,
A Minnesota accent
Didn’t quite take.

He taught first in Minneapolis,
Where he set minds on fire,
And after 30 years,
He thought he’d retire.

But Great Art can’t sit still,
He’s got to keep busy.
To Jackson he came,
We were all in a tizzy.
For seven short years,
He’s walked our hallways.
The students he’s taught
Will remember him always.

But it’s not just the kids,
We’ll remember him, too
His way with the words
Is unique, it’s quite true!

For our Great Art
Has a great many talents,
But listening is one
he just can’t balance.

His love of storytelling
By us will be missed
For he hates to give
Anyone just the gist!

To hear him tell stories
It’s a very good bet
There’s no one on earth
Great Art hasn’t met.

A wise old owl,
We call him ‘round here
His knowledge and wisdom
Is perfectly clear.

Whether baseball or numbers,
Trivia or fact,
For all of these things,
He has quite a knack.

He peers around corners
With eyes round and wide,
Ready to tease you
Then tell you he lied.

He eats breakfast at Perkins
With his sweet young harem,
But now they’re all pregnant,
So that ought to scare him!

Despite lunches of cookies,
Fritos and Coke
He manages to stay
Quite a thin young bloke.

But behind the computer
He’d rather not be,
His hunt and peck typing
Is quite painful to see!

So, on to new adventures
Our Great Art must go.
He leaves us behind
Many memories to stow.

But Great Art isn’t done.
There’s much more to do.
And if we’ve learned anything,
It’s he’ll never be through.

So, so long for now,
For now, we must part,
We just want to say
It’s been really great, Art.

So, for all of you who don’t know Art…that about summarizes the fine man. There are no words I can use to describe my relationship with Art except that he is indeed one of my best friends.

After I met hime, we taught together for a few years. We talked all the time, and I would even get and send emails to his wife, Jennifer, but our relationship stayed at school. Then, I FINALLY got to meet Jennifer, his lovely bride. Together the four of us went up north to a friend’s wedding. We bonded quite a bit that weekend. Keith and I married a few weeks later. Art and Jennifer attended our wedding and the baseball game where we celebrated for our “reception.” Art and Jennifer talked nonstop about the fun they had with us. We had a couple of more “double dates” before January 14, 2004. What an awful day.

I got to school early that day. I put my stuff away and then walked down the long hall to the staff workroom. I remember the exact spot I was standing when a guidance counselor met me in the hallway, and said, “I am so sorry about Art!” Shocked, stunned, I stood there and listened to the details…….”Art couldn’t wake up Jennifer this morning…she died in her sleep over night….poor Art…..” I know more was said, but that’s about all I picked up. Anyway, to make a long story even longer, I ended up leaving school that morning and spending teh day with him. I’ve never seen a person so devastated. All I remember CLEARLY about that day is the tire tracks in the snow on the sidewalk as I walked up to his front door that morning….the marks from the wheels of the stretcher that wheeled Jennifer away that morning.

Fast forward 2 1/2 years later to the past few weeks………and Art sold his house and got married again! He moved to Virginia two weeks ago, and I miss the man terribly. Like I said, I didn’t see or talk to him daily anymore since he retired, but now that I know he’s not here anymore, it just bums me out. Although, I have to say, we had dinner with he him and his new bride, and he is so HAPPY! I’m thrilled for him. He so deserves it!

I am off to bed… Good night!