I started Montessori school in Jackson, Tennessee when I was around 3, and I loved it!!!  My very first best friend in that school was a guy named Walter. I do not have a lot of memories of him other than I just loved to play with him on the playground and used to do some stuff in class with him.

But I do have one memory that is burned in my brain. He and I were leaving our classroom to walk somewhere – you know the good ol’days of single-file lines ! We were just having fun . . . joking around with each other – being silly, and then it happened. . . . . A couple of older kids were coming down the hallway towards us, and they looked at me in my eyes with disgust and said “What are you DOING!?!” . . . . . . .you see. . . . Walter was African American, and about the only one in the whole school. . . and well, . . . . where I was in Tennessee – Not everyone was ok with me being such great friends with “one of them”.

TODAY IS A BIG DAY –

When I was in sixth grade, I became friends with one of the new boys in my school named Ronnie. Once again, one of the few African Americans in my school. He and I were in the same home room class, and we hit it off well with each other. Ronnie was picked on a lot and even bullied by some of the older kids - and I just remember how angry it made me feel when they did that to him, but I was kind of round at the time, and not as bold as I am now. I remember that people would pick on him, until it was P.E. class, and then guys wanted him on their basketball team – because he could jump out of the gym. Man! did that make me mad!!!!! - and it gave Ronnie such a hard time being flipped back and forth. . . loved. . . despised. . . etc…

I remember one day one of my best friends (Scott W.) was picking on Ronnie, and I went up to Scott and threw a punch right towards his nose, but stopped about an inch away. . . . . and I told him to leave Ronnie alone.  I wish I could say things changed, but they really didn’t, and Ronnie left our school after that year. . .  a wounded boy.

TODAY IS A VERY BIG DAY –

and it is my opinion that regardless of who you voted for. . .  today is a tremendous day of hope for reconciliation, equality, and unity for all colors of people!!