Dear Molly,
Now a new blog theme, in addition to song lyrics at every occasion. Reflecting on relationships with individuals.
Up first, in honor of 19 years of life today, and 8 crazy years of friendship: Milan Perry.
Now a new blog theme, in addition to song lyrics at every occasion. Reflecting on relationships with individuals.
Up first, in honor of 19 years of life today, and 8 crazy years of friendship: Milan Perry.
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They say there's love at first sight and there must be friendship at first sight, but a relationship you now consider to be among your most treasured would actually fall under the category of distaste at first sight.
First day of sixth grade. Stanford Middle School 1st period History.
Hello. Hello. Great.
You quickly find out that you're both the hand-raising, high-scoring, bordering on know-it-all type. Neither of you were used to having an intellectual rival. The idea was appalling. You wanted to be the sole shining star! And that's not even mentioning that she played violin too. Was this girl out to get you? Bring you down? Why did she have to share History, Science, English, and Orchestra classes with you? Why couldn't it be someone you liked? You mostly avoid each other.
Seventh grade rolls around. You find yourself together in English, PE, Orchestra, and History. Not again! In Mr. Waddles' English class, you're assigned a project: As a group, research a two-sided debatable topic and write an individual paper making the case for one side. No Spider Man or Batman, Coke or Pepsi, or Disney Channel or Nickelodeon for you! You wind up selecting the death penalty to research with Miriam and Milan. Because you knew you could trust them not to flake. And slowly, you become friends. Isn't that how all rivals wind up befriending each other, working on a middle school project about the death penalty?
You find this turn of events much more amusing than she does. You can laugh about your blooming early days of friendship now. Like when she accidentally broke your glasses with a football. And specifically her great line: Do you play an instrument? She realizes that you sit next to each other in orchestra. You: I'll repeat that one when we're in a Retirement Home, sitting in rocking chairs, and we'll both laugh until our dentures fall out. A true gem.
Seventh grade comes, seventh grade goes. You remember it all in living color, she doesn't.
Eighth grade arrives, and you're faced with a major decision. Molly at Millikan, or Molly at Poly? She persuades you to pick the rhyme over the alliteration, and you are eternally grateful for that.
High school. Long Beach Polytechnic Program of Additional Curricular Experiences. PACE. Sadly, it's a four letter word for a lot of people. For both of you, it definitely is.
You stop talking as you both face demons. Feelings of inferiority. Falling outs. Financial troubles. Grade woes. Yet, you can sense that she's won't desert you when you need her. A fair weather friend she is not.
She is among your closest confidants. One of only a handful of similar age/grade.
You balance each other out. You both love to talk and talk and talk. Luckily the struggles of eleven year-olds are no longer an issue.
You support each other. No topic is completely off limits.
You teach each other. Fortunately, you have the same basic political views. But the cultures you were raised in are basically polar opposites. You teach her what it means to be white but not a WASP. Sorry. And Judaism and kindness. She teaches you what it's like to be raised more or less an only child of a single parent in more or less the inner city. And how tough it is to be a strong, independent, intellectual, black woman in 2017. You've both said some insensitive things over the years, but have learned over time that words sting, but they don't break you.
You never hesitate to reach out to each other. The world is better when you converse, for a fleeting moment.
And you could go on and on and on. But you don't have to.
First day of sixth grade. Stanford Middle School 1st period History.
Hello. Hello. Great.
You quickly find out that you're both the hand-raising, high-scoring, bordering on know-it-all type. Neither of you were used to having an intellectual rival. The idea was appalling. You wanted to be the sole shining star! And that's not even mentioning that she played violin too. Was this girl out to get you? Bring you down? Why did she have to share History, Science, English, and Orchestra classes with you? Why couldn't it be someone you liked? You mostly avoid each other.
Seventh grade rolls around. You find yourself together in English, PE, Orchestra, and History. Not again! In Mr. Waddles' English class, you're assigned a project: As a group, research a two-sided debatable topic and write an individual paper making the case for one side. No Spider Man or Batman, Coke or Pepsi, or Disney Channel or Nickelodeon for you! You wind up selecting the death penalty to research with Miriam and Milan. Because you knew you could trust them not to flake. And slowly, you become friends. Isn't that how all rivals wind up befriending each other, working on a middle school project about the death penalty?
You find this turn of events much more amusing than she does. You can laugh about your blooming early days of friendship now. Like when she accidentally broke your glasses with a football. And specifically her great line: Do you play an instrument? She realizes that you sit next to each other in orchestra. You: I'll repeat that one when we're in a Retirement Home, sitting in rocking chairs, and we'll both laugh until our dentures fall out. A true gem.
Seventh grade comes, seventh grade goes. You remember it all in living color, she doesn't.
Eighth grade arrives, and you're faced with a major decision. Molly at Millikan, or Molly at Poly? She persuades you to pick the rhyme over the alliteration, and you are eternally grateful for that.
High school. Long Beach Polytechnic Program of Additional Curricular Experiences. PACE. Sadly, it's a four letter word for a lot of people. For both of you, it definitely is.
You stop talking as you both face demons. Feelings of inferiority. Falling outs. Financial troubles. Grade woes. Yet, you can sense that she's won't desert you when you need her. A fair weather friend she is not.
She is among your closest confidants. One of only a handful of similar age/grade.
You balance each other out. You both love to talk and talk and talk. Luckily the struggles of eleven year-olds are no longer an issue.
You support each other. No topic is completely off limits.
You teach each other. Fortunately, you have the same basic political views. But the cultures you were raised in are basically polar opposites. You teach her what it means to be white but not a WASP. Sorry. And Judaism and kindness. She teaches you what it's like to be raised more or less an only child of a single parent in more or less the inner city. And how tough it is to be a strong, independent, intellectual, black woman in 2017. You've both said some insensitive things over the years, but have learned over time that words sting, but they don't break you.
You never hesitate to reach out to each other. The world is better when you converse, for a fleeting moment.
And you could go on and on and on. But you don't have to.
Milan means the world to you. Never forget it.
Let's see how far we've come, Girl!
Song of the Day: How Far We've Come, by Matchbox 20
Hello
Hello
Hello
Hello
Hello
Waking up at the start of the end of the world,
But it's feeling just like every other morning before,
Now I wonder what my life is going to mean if it's gone,
The cars are moving like a half a mile an hour
And I started staring at the passengers who're waving goodbye
Can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time?
But it's feeling just like every other morning before,
Now I wonder what my life is going to mean if it's gone,
The cars are moving like a half a mile an hour
And I started staring at the passengers who're waving goodbye
Can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time?
I believe the world is burning to the ground
Oh well I guess we're gonna find out
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Well I believe it all is coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend,
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Oh well I guess we're gonna find out
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Well I believe it all is coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend,
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
I think it turned ten o'clock but I don't really know
And I can't remember caring for an hour or so
Started crying and I couldn't stop myself
I started running but there's no where to run to
I sat down on the street took a look at myself
Said where you going man you know the world is headed for hell
Say your goodbyes if you've got someone you can say goodbye to
And I can't remember caring for an hour or so
Started crying and I couldn't stop myself
I started running but there's no where to run to
I sat down on the street took a look at myself
Said where you going man you know the world is headed for hell
Say your goodbyes if you've got someone you can say goodbye to
I believe the world is burning to the ground
Oh well I guess we're gonna find out
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Oh well I guess we're gonna find out
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Well I, believe, it all, is coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend,
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend,
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
It's gone, gone, baby, it's all gone
There is no one on the corner and there's no one at home
It was cool cool, it was just all cool
Now it's over for me and it's over for you
Well it's gone, gone, baby, it's all gone
There is no one on the corner and there's no one at home
Well it was cool cool, it was just all cool
Now it's over for me and it's over for you
There is no one on the corner and there's no one at home
It was cool cool, it was just all cool
Now it's over for me and it's over for you
Well it's gone, gone, baby, it's all gone
There is no one on the corner and there's no one at home
Well it was cool cool, it was just all cool
Now it's over for me and it's over for you
I believe the world is burning to the ground
Oh well I guess we're gonna find out
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Well I, believe, it all, is coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend,
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Oh well I guess we're gonna find out
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Well I, believe, it all, is coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend,
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Much Love, Molly
