Sometimes it seems like an angel is put on Earth right when you need them most...not that kind of angel, someone so beautiful you want to remember them forever (although that happens too...) but one of those people who come out of nowhere to rescue you from your current mood. I went to dinner with one of them tonight, and then watched "16 Candles," which I had never seen before, and completely restored my faith in humanity as a whole. Individuals may come and go, but Mary proved that there are true friends around if one is willing to search. It just felt good to talk to someone again, who knew me, rather than someone who was just putting up with me.
I'm still confused - an upgrade from depressed - about a lot of things right now, but its no worse off than I've been in a long time. I think (and hope) that they work themselves out with my involvement.
Walking home, however, painted an interesting picture of what La Salle becomes over the summers: In the Miguel Community Center, a meeting for the LaSallian Leadership Institute was taking place. From what I can tell, its a bunch of high school teachers and administrators that come together to figure out how to apply the principles of La Salle to their work and their lives. The meeting was a social event, with drinks and stuff, in the big meeting room.
Walking through the hallway, I could hear the sounds of Spanish music, bringing me out to the other group of guests this week, the English as a Second Language teenagers from Spain. Everyone was just hanging out in front of their houses, talking, and listening to music. The high school administrators stared at the ESL students, and the ESL students glanced down at the LLI people a bit, and continued on. Matt Kalinowski taught (not really taught; because they knew a lot of them already) the students English curse words, and the ESL students translated into Spanish. Their knowledge outnumbered ours, as they kept referring to "South Park" and other movies.
We filled two sheets of paper with the words and their translations.
The tough part will be making copies.
I'm kidding....I think.
Currently listening to: "The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen.
Posted by Matthew at July 17, 2002 12:08 AM