Memorials and Remembering

 In the midst of listening to a student of mine (nice work, JC!) playing a solo at the town Memorial Day ceremony, I started to tear up slightly.  It wasn't an abstract kind of emotion but I felt bad in a very personal way.  As I have written before, I am named after my Dad's cousin (and friend) who was killed in Vietnam in 1969.  My Dad is not someone who has a lot of friends or keeps a social network of any kind.  I think Ken Sawyer is probable the only person outside of his immediate family he has ever talked about to me from before I was born.

With the speeches and the music and the flag raising ceremony setting the backdrop, I found myself musing on the life my namesake never got to have.  My son was sitting between my wife and I, my daughter in the band, half of the attendees some kind of larger family of sorts since I had taught many of them or they were related to or friends of someone I had taught; a sense of community I suppose is what I'm trying to capture. 

Ken, you never got to have this life.  This fulfilling life.  I am sorry you didn't.  I don't think it means much that I would think about you at a moment like this, but maybe it does.  

I didn't know you, but I Remember you.

Shot Glasses, Class Pics, and Self Discipline

Long ago, Irene and I decided that it would be cool to collect something systematically when we travelled.  We settled on shot glasses because they are small, attractive and would be cool to display.  However, not having a place to display them early on and the lack of practicality of lots of shot glasses, it morphed into something that seemed like a dumb idea.  We switched to espresso cups for a short while and then we simply stopped all together. 

Then, when we bought our house, it turned out to have these weird short shelves near the ceiling that are almost without utility.  Except, of course, for the fact that shot glasses fit perfecting in the space:

So, now, not only do we not have anything close to a representation of the places we have visited together - but this particular shelf goes on for another 3 feet with nothing on it currently...

Years ago, I took class pics with my entire classes on the last day of school.  I did this before i had a blog and before phones-with-cameras were ubiquitous.  So, needless to say, I didn't always remember to bring a camera and it didn't always happen and... well, I have been inconsistent so a golden opportunity for a really cool retrospective has slipped through my fingers.

Today's pic of some of my seniors at the end of astronomy class.  I, of course, didn't think of it in time to catch everyone and so it represents another failure at self-discipline...

Note the posters on the solar system and spectroscopy in the background... complete coincidence (they are not even mine!)

For completion, here is the mini collection of espresso cups:

Junior Prom 2023

 I was hoping for a class picture, but it was a big chaotic sprawl and I didn't wind up getting one.  Wish I had gotten more pics with students but at least I got these!

:)

And then there is one very special junior who, although not a student of mine, I definitely wanted to get a pic with!

Paul McCartney, Stephen King, and Creativity

When the epic documentary "Get Back" came out, I (like many in my generation) was transfixed by this time machine/behind the curtain extravaganza.  There, before our eyes, the Fab Four just conjured the soundtrack of our lives from nothing.  Paul creates a classic out of a riff and a hum, John ad libs completely different lyrics that morph from a political commentary to a nonsensical romantic ditty.  I was amazed and struck with how playful and joyous their process was.

I have long been fascinated by the creative process.  Like an outsider looking in,  longing to be invited to the party, but doomed to just look on enviously.  My highest aspiration has always been to be a writer.  I have done many things but a writer of fiction I have yet* to become.  

Years ago, I read Stephen King's book "On Writing" and was amazed at how he much he was willing to sacrifice from his original drafts.  He recounts eliminating entire characters, scenes he was in love with, taking characters in unenvisioned directions, etc.

Today I realized one of my (many) problems when it come to my own writing: I have some illusion that I should remain true to my original idea.  That there is some sanctity in the original inspiration that must be respected. That there needs to be a buckling down and a coloring in the lines.  What I need is to be more carefree and whimsical.  

In other words, I should let my creativity go with the flow.  More Jazz and Less Geometry Proof...

AI art prompt: "More Jazz and Less Geometry Proof" in a surreal style

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*And therein lies the hope, gentle reader

Senior Prom 2023

Usually WHS only has a Junior Prom,  but this year the Seniors had their Promenade (due to Covid-related cancellations in the past).  Most were students of mine last year (when they took physics), but some are seniors in my Astronomy class, and a few were unfortunate sophomores when they had me for my one-off chemistry teaching year.  Several repeat customers as well (poor souls).  

QL is a special case as I have known him since he was a sophomore but not as a student.  I was teaching his girlfriend that year.  Somehow, he always found an excuse to come by to visit that particular class even though I didn't even catch his name until halfway through the year!  Now that he is actually my student his senior year, he still finds an excuse - but this time to leave my class almost everyday.  Wonder where he goes?

*This montage is from the pics that happen to be on my phone.  If anyone would like their pic removed or has an additional one they send me they would like added, I'm happy to change the montage!

Swag: Then and Now

So, this may come as a shock, but I've always been a bit of an odd duck.  When I was a young man, I thought wearing school branded clothing was a bit tacky.  (well, truth be told, I didn't really think about it at all but I certainly wasn't interested in doing it - only in retrospect do I give it the label 'tacky').  Now, in my *ahem* more mature years shall we say, I think it would be cool to have some swag from my alma maters, Purdue and Carnegie Mellon.  Despite spending 3 years at CMU and 4 at Purdue, I do not have any school branded merch.

But, here's the trick:  Just wait long enough and the swag will find you.  My technique was to grow up to become a high school physics teacher.  Part of that job entails writing letters of rec for students.  Occasionally one of those students goes to one of your alma maters.  And, then, rarest of rare, that particular student will thank you with some select swag.

Thank, KB!  It all worked out in the end for the Then-Ken and the Now-Mr. Rideout!