To you Kate Koehler

There you are. You. Yes you. The little girl that used to hug her dog when things went wrong. I said you had Tiger Eyes remember, when we used to eat cup ramen noodles in the high school doorway from white plastic bags? You said ramen with mustard tasted better and I couldn’t agree more. Going to Decades down on 10th Avenue when you told me to make up a “club name”, my first club. You were so smart, always understood everything in class and the fastest typer I have ever met. I could never keep up with you on AIM, MsMojoRsn, Jim Morrison and the Doors enshrined in your heart. Driving in your maroon Toyota Corolla, jamming to 2Pac songs, and making me spastic with giggles when you did crazy things...like that one time, putting on Bath&Body’s Juniper Breeze at a red light, then at the green light smearing the stearing wheel with thick white lotion as you turned. You let me borrow your car for three days and I was so scared I would crash it. I bought a car cover and covered it everyday, you know. Where did we even go in your car? Always driving, that was the best part ... I’ll never forget you, Dear Friend, rest in peace.

COLA SHOCK!

I forgot just how good Coca Cola and vodka can be, especially after a long day of English corrections. Can you tell what's missing?

A: Hello.

B: Hello.

A: How are you?

B: I am fine. And you?

A: I am fine.

A: You look hard.

B: I am very hard.

A: Shall I help you?

B: Thank you.

A: Can I ask you to go to YouMe Town?

B: OK. Let's go!

They forgot to put the word STUDYING as the thing that they are doing hard. AH! Kids, please be sponges and learn; if only you knew what you were saying!

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.