I am saddened to say that most of my Elementary years have vanished from my mind, but I do have one and last remaining class photo from my co-joined 5th and 6th grade class. These are earliest of years which I can remember, not only because of the photo, but because of enjoyment.
The particular school (a public one) which I was in had a number of classes which taught two grades in one class room with a number of teachers. Cannot recall the exact details, but every class room had it's own room; classification if you will, and ours (as I wrote on the photo long ago) was "Room 14". Room 14 was our class' 'base' and this is where we had our 'home base' teacher, Mrs. Fekete. We would take a number of classes in our home room, but would head to other rooms (which naturally, were home rooms of other classes) to take such subjects as Gym, Astrology, etc.
It sounds like a bloody mess, but it really wasn't that bad. This was a normal practice in Alberta through out the mid to late 1990's. Not sure if it's done anymore, but I can't see any reason why It wouldn't be. While it was an efficient way of costing cutting, I don't believe that any us directly "suffered" from curriculum aimed at two different grades.
Anyhoo, I honestly cannot recall whether I was in the 5th or 6th grade at the time which the photo was taken. Thankfully, I don't have to struggle to remember the name of anyone in the photo as I wrote each and every persons name out on the back of the photo (from row to row, left to right).
It's an odd photo If I may say so. Most everyone looking normal, except for a few individuals - myself included. I am the only individual in the photo with my eyes more or less closed with a stupid smile on my face; don't ask me why, but the majority of my school pictures were taken like this. The other misfits in the photo are Joel - who's not looking forward, but rather smiling with his face completely aimed to the right (as if the camera was over there) and Olivia and Leo with straight faces only seen on children who were brought a lump of coal for Christmas. Everyone else (the other 25) look relatively human, displaying the false smile which they're expected to have when they're parents paid for them to be in that photo.
So then, before I go into my memories of each of my class mates in the photo, I think it's only fair to describe what kind of youngster I was, who my friends were, what my grades were.
For starters, it must be said I was never the "jock", never the "popular" one, never the "loner" or "nerd", but rather the "guy" who couldn't really be stereotyped as anything. The only thing I can confidently say is that I had next to no enemies and was one who was generally accepted and liked by most everyone. No bragging intended, but it's an attribute which I have to this day; I very much believe I am still respected and liked by most everyone I encounter.
There were a few individuals who I disliked, but I honestly cannot recall "hating" anyone per se. And thankfully, my school days were nearly absent from ridicule or bullies. I only recall one guy who was a bit of a prick and decided to pick on me once or twice. I saw him three or so years ago when he was working at a A&W. He didn't recognize me, but I recognized him and even though I suffered very little emotional damage (that was emo, wasn't it?) it, I wanted to ring his neck like a towel.
I of course should take time to mention my many friends at the time; not those were just in my class, but those who were in other rooms.
My "room 14" friends were: Patrick (a giant of a guy - not really overweight, but just big), Ian (who cares, but who was slightly overweight), Chen (his English was quite poor, but he was a great guy), Kyle (entertaining Jewish fellow) and Leo, who a who would later become one of my best friends (from the Philippines) . Outside of my homeroom: Colin (hugely tall guy with red hair and of Irish decent); Brendan (very cool guy); Karl (who looked towards religion after his family had some great financial troubles) and Neil (Mr. Starwars and a human calculator). I know there were more, but that's as many as this shattered memory can remember.
As I mentioned above, Leo, is a guy who later become one of the greatest friends. Honestly, I hardly noticed him through out the majority of Elementary school, but once we got to know each other we became friends in an instant. It's a friendship which lasted for many years - certainly into Junior High - but one day, things got a little to messy. On this particular day (while we chatted on MSN), he said something along the lines: "you're writing is awful, please make coherent sentences because it's annoying reading mindless dribble". Naturally, being offended by what he had said, a fight broke out and shortly put, our friendship was over. We haven't talked since and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a tragedy.
Mind you, one of my absolute best friends wasn't even in my grade, in fact he was a few behind. I know I've mentioned him before, but his name was Alex and he lived just a short distance from me. We were great friends despite our age difference, and looking back on it, I'd say he was most likely my favourite friend. The day I left for Washington State (after 4 years of friendship), was really the last time I ever had real contact with him. Saw him a few times afterwords, but never "got" into it - if you know what I mean.
Girls:
Girlfriends? No chance in hell; after all, these were the days when catching cooties was an epidemic. Girls were just girls, there wasn't anything particular attractive about them. Although, I do remember I had a crush on a girl named Amy. She has a twin sister (Megan) and while the two looked nearly identical, I can't say I had much affection for Megan. Amy on the other hand, was typical strawberry red haired girl with freckles. Lindsay Lohan comes to mind, but without the trashiness. As to her status in our little classroom, I think it's safe to say she was highly popular. Out of my league? Perhaps, but that didn't stop me from sending her a love note one particular day. She showed that note to all of her friends, never did tell her it was me that sent it to her though.
I truthfully wonder what she looks like now a days.
Other than her, I they're were was maybe one other girl which I considered "likable". Her name was Emily and she lived just a few blocks from my house. She was always very nice too, perhaps a little too nice.. if you catch my drift. Had we been older, I think it would have most definitely had a boyfriend/girlfriend type of situation.
Embarrassing Moments?
Frankly, none until 5th grade (I believe it was 5th anyways). I accidentally pissed my pants and I'm fully aware that it sounds hilarious. Well, it wasn't, especially on the day it happened. The reason as to why it actually happened was because of a small bladder problem which I had since a very young age. It had been a huge burden for me through my early days and one day, unable to make a visit to the bathroom, the unthinkable happened. I remember I had been trying to hide it, but somebody eventually noticed and when they did, it was a bloody field day. Out in the hallways making some kind of arts and krafts, a kid by the name of Russell had noticed and said "OMG, you pissed you're pants". He then preceded to say he was going to run back to class and tell everyone else. And I distinctly remember my friend Brendan telling him - "no, don't, it's not right". Of course,at that age, hurting someones feelings aren't to be considered. He went back and told everyone.
Walking home that day, with my head and shoulders slumped in shame, was unforgettable. What was even worse was that I was unsure how fellow class mates would treat the situation the next day. I begged my father to let me stay home the day after this happened, but he said it would only make things worse. In any event and much to my surprise, I was never teased or ridiculed on what had happened. I suppose the reasons being as I mentioned, people generally liked me. Nothing which could be considered embarrassing happened to me before, or after that incident. I only recall it being mentioned twice after that and not in a manor which was making fun of me, but rather the situation.
The faces:
So then, what do I generally remember of the faces in the photo which I have? I shall go left to right (row to row):
Shamone (can't recall anything other than she was nice); Amy (well, you know); Patrick (cool guy); Mirslav (more or less our foreign exchange student); Vanessa (tall and had a sister named Mandy); Serenity (quiet and smart); Cathy (smart); Harty (energetic); Lindsey (don't recall a whole lot); Ian (already mentioned); Kyle (already mentioned); Andrew M (smart, skinny, tall); Bruce (idiot); Megan S (smart); Chen (already mentioned); Kirk (cool guy); Andrew (smart ass, some what cocky); Joel (good guy); Olivia (disliked her, she disliked me); Colin (not the same guy mentioned above; this guy who had no T.V. and we all thought he was strange because of that); Leo (already mentioned); Meryl (smart girl, but quite arrogant); Magnus (he may have been young, but he was so good at skate boarding he was eventually sponsored by a number outfits); Jenny (don't remember much about her); Elisha (ditto); Luke (cool guy).
Others not in my class which I remember:
Rory (the guy who's family had it all, until his dad lost his job and they were forced to move to a lower income house); Keaton (he had a catchy last name); Kristie (the Britney Spears of school); Brett (his parents started the hugely popular swimwear company, SWIMCO); Zoe (lived on my street, didn't like her that much).
Grades:
Well, I was well doing well in every subject except one. Can you guess which one? It was math and it's always been a vice for my mind. I'm absolutely awful at math and through out my earlier years I had to have much help from both my parents and school. In fact, I was once pulled aside every math class with a few others (from other rooms and what-not) to receive special math education. It was later dropped as my father thought it was disrupting my flow and interaction with my class.
Ritalin
My inability to learn math in a manor which most did, led me to being put on Ritalin. They said I was too hyper and thus was causing a lack of concentration in my classes, particularly in the morning. I was on that stuff for a while, but it eventually started doing the exact opposite of what it was supposed to. Rather than calming me down, it was putting me to sleep.
Truth is, I never should have been put on that garbage.
Phew..given my in-depth detail you might gather the impression that what I am writing is current, rather the a thing of the past. Trust me though, it is of the past, 8+ years ago in fact. My memory has yet to fade in this regard; I remember this stuff like it was yesterday; perhaps because it was a time when my life was stable.
The year of 1998, was undoubtley the best one I have thus far into my life. This was the year when my mother moved out of the house (because of differences with my father), the year when my father got his Lexus SC400, and the year when me and him partied like there was tomorrow. That was year, to say the least, which was full of enjoyment in every form. My school year was fantastic as I did tons of stuff with my both my father and friends. The actual details of that fateful year, other than it was great, are starting to fade.
Junior High:
Junior High, eh? By the time I entered Junior High, both me and my father had made the big leap of moving to the United States. And from there on, we moved back and forth. I've been to three different junior high schools and certainly can't even recall the names of the friends I had; can't recall much of anything.
The day we moved to Washington state, was the day my life changed. Things changed, hard troubles were forthcoming (as mentioned here). It's all a giant blur, but I suppose I'll give it go.
Washington State, wow... that was quite a while ago. I remember the faces of the friends which I had, but not they're names. The only name which comes to mind is Danielle (a girl who I thought who looked like Heather Graham) and was best friends with a girl who I had a crush on. As for the girl I had a slight crush on, I'm pretty sure her name started with a K..
Tis was a different experience. I was very much impressed by their school operations and teaching methods. Although, they were perhaps, a little too heavy on the whole American history thing. People often referred to me as the "goofy Canadian" who pronounced the alphabet with a "Zed", and said "a-gain", rather than "a-gane".
I seriously cannot remember what happened after returning to Canada and what-not. That should be an indication of how messy my life's really been.
All I know was that I eventually went to the JHS where many of my friends from Elementary school had gone and naturally, was happy to reacquaint with a number of them. They all looked older, but were the same great bunch I had remembered. That's not to say people hadn't changed though. I remember smoking both cigarettes and pot was a huge deal among the majority; especially the Irish bloke, Colin, which I spoke of earlier. He was addicted to that stuff and I wouldn't be the last bit surprised if he was a pot-head right now.
Met a number of new friends too.
From there on, my memories blur like a supercar at 200mph; my moving to different cities has only left the many bad memories.
High School:
See the above
So yeah, there's an appropriate history of my early days. I often think to myself: "where are these people now"; "have they achieved what they wanted in life"; "have they seen rough times"; "what do they look like now?"
I heard a little bit about some of them over the years and I gather that they've never experienced anything that changed their life. While I was struggling to find to foot in our little world, I imagine all they ever did was continue to live their life. I'm envious in that regard.
I'd be lying If I said my life had turned out like I expected (and I didn't expect anything other than it would be "normal"). Yeah, life's not over (I'm still young!), but the last 7 years of my life has been nothing but a ton of disasters. I feel like I've lost a great deal of my life time. Struggling, wading, jumping, skipping and hanging on.
Do I feel sorry for myself? Yeah, I do and If I told you my entire life's story up to this point, you'd see why. Strange times they've been; I often wish none of it would have ever happened. It's nobody's fault per se, it's just (as Ray on Trailer Park Boys says): "that's the way she fucking goes".
Suffice to say, I miss my Early days like an old friend.
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