Project 365: Day #2.38 - Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Meet the Churchills.

First, we have Jacquynn.  Second, we have Caleb.  And they are living examples of how very different siblings can be.  They are also examples of why diversity makes life more interesting.  Today my morning was so much fun because of this Churchill combo.  They didn't plan it - it was simply a morning that I felt compelled to celebrate these amazing scholars who touched my heart at different times and in different ways.  First I just love Jacquynn's energy.  I was so proud to see her flaunt her college dreams.  Her shirt reads:  Howard:  This is where I belong.  She has a dream and she isn't going to let anything get in her way.  She told me that she shadowed students at Howard on Thursday while we were out of school for Rosh Hashanah.  Now that is what I call "acting now!"  She is a woman on a mission and I can't wait to see what she claims for her future.  It's hard not to smile when Jacquynn is around. 

Then we have Caleb.  My lovable, benevolent Caleb.  He stuck a poem under my door so that the first thing I encountered this morning was a random act of kindness.  This is what I love about this kid - his heart.  It is fragile yet fiercely strong.  Here is what this leader of Hyperion wrote for me:

 Happy Birthday, Dona

Dear Dona, Your birhtday I forgot

But I still love, love you a lot.

So I'm writing you a poem to express my Hyperion spirit

I'm not nervous, I know you'll love it.

I can't believe it's been 4 years since I've met you

I used to hate you, yes it's true.

I thought having you as a teacher would be to my bane

whenever you got mad, you looked insane.

My hatred ended in a class after your brief hiatus

You proved that day that day that day that you could never hate us.

You made us write if we were AVID scholars

And upon those words, no hoots nor hollers.

The note I wrote was one of discouragement

But your response to me was one of encouragement

You gave me a video about the secret of life

Your love cut through me like butter and a hot knife.

You made me cry once during junior year

I emailed that I qui AVID, only out of fear.

"You make my heart hurt" was your reply

Into my sleep, I began to cry

You made my best friend cry, which  made me mad

Seeing her cry was depressing and sad

She hugged me later, so warm and snug

That I had to come back and give you a hug.

I think my deepest fear isn't drugs like meth

But that you might cause my death

I dreamed once I was shot by a Silhouette figure

And when I looked, you were behind the trigger

You were always quick to forgive, no matter what the mess

And always made me feel better, I must confess

I remember crashing you computer right before a big test

You held me in your arms, I felt blessed.

I surprised you one time with a maze of riddles

I didn't let out a peep, not even a little

I helped you find the clues as if confused

But all the while, I was amused.

I remember one time, outside of class

When I wrote you were a pain in the ***

You read it and smiled, as if unoffended

Which is good, and not what I intended.

So here you are today, 4* years old

And I hope the "*" won't make you callous or cold

I hope it was a good one through out the days

Te amo, Dona! Y buenas noches.

Well Caleb, if you read my birthday blog you will learn that my 44th was not one of my best.  But your kind gesture made up for all the pain I felt yesterday.  Thanks for helping me see the sun after a storm.  You are truly a blessing in my life.  I claim October 5th as an official "I love the Churchills" holiday.