WTF

is happening to my Alma Mater?

I just spent the last 2 hours of my life- time that would have been better spent sleeping or working on ACTUAL spanish berbs- thinking about the mess that is going on at Mount Vernon Academy. I feel like I should be there, like some great injustice is taking place that I will NOT stand for! hahaha... alas, I am here at Andrews University persuing degrees in English and Photography. All I have is my laptop.

I am not one of these great influential alumni who has made some huge achievement and enough cash to build an art building for the school (I totally would... with REAL darkrooms too!) but I think us broke-ass college students living off ramen and praying that they have enough gas to get them to work have a say in this as well. Now I gave the four most mediocre years of my life to Mount Vernon Academy. Sure, whatever I gave back to the school was mediocrity in its finest, but what I took with me changed the course of my life forever.

Now, It wasn't the awesome coach busses that took me to all sorts of churches in Ohio ever weekend (although those were amazing times!) that got me through those years. It wasn't learning about cytoplasm and mitosis and all that stuff that I am pretty sure I dont remember that made those years so monumental. It was my teachers. Oh, you teachers and your corny jokes and lame (but surprisingly effective) anecdotes! We sure dont appreciate them while we're there, but later at the lowest moment of your life it will come back to you.

A story Mrs. C told in Intro to Chem.... Realistic advice from Mr. B in Campus Family.... Just the simple act of prayer from Mr. Soper in 'World Religions'- That was the stuff. The good stuff. Dedicated and passionate teachers. Now that they are trying to toss one of them I really just dont know what to say except WTF.

After the crap they tried to pull with my Brother last year? and now this?

I feel like there is something bad happening back there.It's sad but true that it is never going to be the same. It will never live up to the standards that it once held. It is going to fall into a black hole... Another monument to happier days just gone. I'm not exactly sure what is going on there but I have gathered a small bit of information and from what I know its not good.

I pray that God will make things right again.

The Tree

It was Noon. I hadn't seen him in a while, so we went outside to talk. It was like any other fall day in Ohio. Not much had changed in my old neighborhood... except that his couch was outside. They were probably putting it out for large pickup or something. I sat on the asphalt that divided our yards while he stretched lazily across the couch. We were just chatting, but we both knew that they would be coming soon. My house was empty- I knew that for sure. My little brother and his sister were on the edge of the woods playing with some branches. They knew that they would soon be running too. In the grass were two hand guns- a silver one and a plastic black one. The black one was empty but the silver one was ready to go. I looked up into the field and saw them. They were walking across the field towards us... fast. "They're here" I calmly told him. "Run". He immediately got up and jogged to the others. They soon disappeared into the woods. Now it was just me and my dog... and they were still coming fast. I picked up the silver gun, only wanting to intimidate. It was still noon.

Few words were exchanged when the three men arrived on my street. "Get out of here!" I said to them as defiantly a young girl could say to three grown men. The one in the middle just snickered. The one on the right suddenly darted around me and grabbed the black gun and shot at me. Oops. loaded.

Bullets flew around me but I knew I wouldn't get hurt. I held up the silver gun with both hands and I aimed best as I could. I was, after all, a very unexperienced shooter. I stood with my feet shoulder length apart. I squeezed the trigger, holding my ground. The two that had yet to reveal their weapons just ran into my house and began tearing it apart looking for something. Despite my poor aim I managed to hit the one with the black gun in the leg. It was enough to get him to stop shooting, and he began to head toward my front door, seeking refuge in my home.

I took the opportunity to race for the woods. I ran in my moccasins through the trails I still know well, with my ferocious and faithful Blanca on my heels. I could soon hear the men behind me. Like Pocahontas (heh) I raced for the meeting place. I was running fast. I soon caught up with the rest of the group. It was not long after Noon at this time. The trees were beginning to thicken now. They became taller and much older than the trees closer to the house. Soon it grew dark. We were getting closer.

Our pace grew less frantic as we neared the clearing. Safety was not far ahead. Suddenly, There it was... the great Baobab tree. Hard to ignore but easily missed by those not looking for it. Suspended between two 'realms' the tree was a well-kept secret. It had been placed long ago, hidden by the sky and the old, deep forest. The top of the tree was not visibile. Looking up above the ring we could only see the deep blue and purple sky dotted with bright stars. The bottom half of the tree, the roots, were long and thick. Each root was about 300 feet long and about as thick as a dinner plate. They hung like a willow tree. Keep in mind, this is not a normal tree. It was suspended in mid air. I know it is difficult to imagine that but bear with me.

Like parts of a rope each root was grouped with others. there were about seven ropes made up of 12-15 roots. They were not twisted together but flinging around wildly. The tree seemed aware of our presence and became more animated as if urging us to hurry. The others went before me. They approached the roots and the tree became calm. I didn't see what happened next. I was trying to find a root for myself... but soon they were all gone and once again I was left alone only with my trusty dog.

I jumped on a root and began swinging. But wait! Blanca! She can't climb this tree! I jumped off and picked up my best friend. I frantically racked my brain for ideas and then decided to settle her in my backpack. She poked her head and paws out of the top and gave me a look of determination. It would seem uncomfortable for a dog to be in a backpack, but there was no other way. She wanted me to know that she could handle it. I swung the bag onto my back and grabbed another root.

Terrier in tow, I climbed up about ten feet and the root began to swing. After a few swings I was high enough and the time was right to let go and jump into the unknown. I flung up into the center of the tree- Into the dark sky, into the stars, and into the other realm.

And then I woke up.