"Dragging my tail feathers, er wings today."
Really I Just got back....from sleepytown. About an hour before the storm started about 4:45, my leg went into a frenzy, so I took a pain pill. I woke up about 7:00,the leg isn't hurting, but about anything will set it off. Kind of like a bad headache.
I got a lot accomplished this morning. Got the birth certificate and took it to the soc. sec. office. That wait was only an hour......it took 2 minutes to do what needed to be done with it. Then they called back this afternoon and I had to go back. Actually, I went right over. The young lady said she had an appt. in a half hour. I zipped on over and took care of it. Luckily, something weird happened. I will tell it in the next paragraph.
The other night I thought about a kid I haven't thought about in years.
Here is the story.
About 25 years ago, a single mom moved in across the street from us with her two teenagers (b & g), and her precious 5 year old boy. The boy became fast friends with my 5 year old. She was a good mom and worked hard to give him as many opportunities as possible. It is hard to do many things when your salary is barely above the poverty level. She read quite a bit and took him to the library regularly. The older daughter was a senior in high school and the son was, well, just hanging out. He did go into the army finally, but he would watch his brother while she worked. That is, he watched brother until brother got up, got dressed and came to my house. (Let's call the little boy Mikey) Mikey and my Jonathan were constant companions and mostly played at my place. He went with us when we went anywhere. I remember he went with us on a family ride to the mountains, and we were gone much longer than expected. (pre cell phone days) She was pacing the side walk when we returned. She was afraid we'd had a wreck or something.
The daughter graduated from high school and began working at an office downtown. She had been taken under the wing of her high school teachers and given a "leg up" in getting work.
One night, the family moved. No warning, no nothing. They just weren't there anymore. We grieved, but knew there was nothing we could do about it. About 2 weeks later, a well dressed man appeared on my front porch, wanting to know if I knew where they had moved. He identified himself as Michael _________ from Washington, DC. (Mikey was a dead ringer for him. It also solved the mystery of why Mikey had a different name to the other kids and mom.) I sent him away with the no info I had.
Fast forward about 24 years......I am sitting in the social security office waiting for the young lady to finish reentering the info she needed for my claim. I look up and a lady walks past the window--from the other side. She had a badge indicating she was an employee. She did a double take and called my name. I knew her face, but didn't make a connection immediately. (I thought she was probably a former student.) No, it was Mikey's sister. She had been working with the social security dept since high school. We talked a few minutes, she gave me her phone number, told me Mikey was in Florida living near his mom, and the young lady finished with my work she had called me to come back to adjust my info. Weird, huh?
Turns out Mikey is working on his masters degree, works at a youth center for homeless kids, and is still looking for a special girl. Why they moved? She got a call from a relative that a job was opening in Florida and they left immediately. Truth time....I was so thrilled to hear about him, I almost cried.
Maybe I should enter this story on "InternetIsland" topic this month. I have been letting Mike down on entering a topic for the Island. What do you think?
"...and if you even try to get back in this dog bed, I will scratch your eyes out!"
Comments (11)
Cool story. What about the man though?
I've got an AA student whose mom is a prostitute and a drug addict. There is absolutely NOTHING his mom has not done in front of him. He is angry at the world and all women. It's gonna be tough, but I'm determined to reach him. Any ideas?
Wow....I was almost breathless with anticipation there....I've always thought real life had better stories than fiction....I think you can take some of the responsibility as to how Mike turned out. My best friend from childhood ended up getting involved with a drug addict in high school and moved out of the house at graduation....I always wondered what happened to her. When I took my daughter to preschool at age 3 in one of the best preschools in town.......she was the Director.....imagine my suprise. She was no longer with said addict and had a wonderful 13 year old son.
RYC: Owen Wilson has been in a lot of movies, directing some...if you really want to know who he is, I would just Google him. He seems to be a very sweet guy. Love it that you also like Kanye.....hehehe. He is, for the most part, what I consider a "clean" rapper.
WOW! Shame you could not give the father any information though. Wonder if he ever comnnected. Is good to know that she received a job and that the move was for a positive reason. Pity she never sent a letter to tell you about it.
RYC: What a wonderful suggestion! I'm thinking theater already...LOL Weddings are such a production anyway, right? Seriously, I thought about several places that are out of the norm her but means big bucks to pull it off, especially since we wanted an outdoor wedding. Originally we were going to go to the courthouse with just our girls but the family got involved and the whole thing has spiraled.
HUGS!!!
Love the dog and catpic. Should be on www.icanhascheezburger.com.