Summer 1996
During the summer of 1996, I was taking a couple of classes at the Eastern New Mexico University of Roswell. There were only 3 weeks left of school for that semester to be over. I had taken English 104 and Math 110. Math was no big deal t me for it’s my favorite subject ever. English, on the other hand, was the subject I was having trouble with. Most of the final grade was based on a research paper due at the end of the course. I love to write, but not when it comes to something I have no choice over waiting. Nevertheless, I was very stressful.
July 4th 1996
It wasn’t until the 4th of July that I started to give some thought about my soon due report. Every time I thought about it, I got more stressed. That was not the only thing running through my head, though. There were other few problems I was having with my family, church, and even myself. I had not eaten anything that day; I was starving. Most of the times that I get stressed out I either eat too much or hardly at all. I also like to spend time by myself when I feel down. I just want to be alone, and have a chance to reflect on my problems.
Before sunset, my friends Luis and Blanca called me and asked me if I wanted to tag along with them to buy some fireworks, and then go to see the fireworks’ show. I agree, since I had nothing better else to do. Besides, I was not feeling my greatest, and knew that I needed to get my mind off my disrupting thoughts. Luis picked up Blanca. Then he picked me up. We went to buy the fireworks as planned. After that, we drove directly to the place where the fireworks’ show was going to be. Lots of people were at the site. We all wanted to see the fantastic promising show. It was already getting dark. The crowd was making some kind of noise in sign of desperation to see the fireworks. The show finally started; everyone was very happy. In fact, that show was one of the best ones I had ever seen then in my life. It was very colorful. They burnt a lot of new types of fireworks. Nobody got hurt. Everything went as planned. The show was a great success. I was glad that my friends had picked me up. For an instance, my mind was clear, which it was good. After the show, my friends decided to go to my house and burn the fireworks we had bought. We had all kinds of fireworks. It seemed as though we were having our own little show. A few neighbors came to see and gathered around; others were watching through their windows.I had not yet realized that July 4th was going to be one of the days that I would never forget. It was not for the fact that it was the USA’s Independence anniversary but because of the significance in my life.
After we finished burning all the fireworks, my friends left home. Shortly after that, my stomach started making some noises, which clearly reminded me that I had not eaten yet. I went inside my house directly to the kitchen to check the refrigerator for food. To my "luck," there wasn’t any prepared. I got in my truck and drove to Burger King. I ordered their #1 without pickles–that was my favorite meal from them. After I got my food, I was driving while thinking on the place to go and eat my value meal. As I recalled earlier, I wanted to be by myself for some time. I remembered about Cahoon Park. I had gone there before and noticed that place was somewhat dark, quiet, and overall seemed perfect for me to have some time for myself after eating.
.......to be continued (go to my Photos and look for Joseph from Roswell. The story picks up there.)
Sunday, July 04, 1999
Thursday, July 01, 1999
For The Love of A Friend
One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from one of my classes walking away from school going towards a bus stop. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd, like me." LOL I had quite a weekend planned (soccer and a fund raiser for my French Club with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye.
As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives." He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home riding the few busses we would take to get there; I carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play soccer on Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes.
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. And my friends and family thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Damn boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next two years, Kyle and I became best friends. Now he was a senior. But we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to UCLA in 2 more years. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for architecture or interior designer; I was stil undesided. Kyle was valedictorian of his class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation.
Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than me and all the girls loved him! Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Not really because I liked men secretely. LOL I wasn't out though. That day was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began."Graduation is atime to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach... but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable." I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and Dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others.
Last I heard from Kyle, he was persuing his goal, and was soon to be married.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye.
As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives." He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home riding the few busses we would take to get there; I carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play soccer on Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes.
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. And my friends and family thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Damn boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next two years, Kyle and I became best friends. Now he was a senior. But we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to UCLA in 2 more years. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for architecture or interior designer; I was stil undesided. Kyle was valedictorian of his class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation.
Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than me and all the girls loved him! Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Not really because I liked men secretely. LOL I wasn't out though. That day was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began."Graduation is atime to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach... but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable." I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and Dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others.
Last I heard from Kyle, he was persuing his goal, and was soon to be married.
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