Poly who? Poly Esther!

[jawnbc]

j5.jpg
Originally uploaded by jawnbc.

Grade 5 for me was a good one. I had perhaps the greatest 5th grade teacher ever, Mr. Merkel. Bob Merkel used charisma and cunning to inspire all 24 of us to work hard, have fun, and be creative. We had weekly contests, played music during our study breaks, and learned the basics of the facts of life. The highlight of it all--not just for me, either--was my winning the oration contest. I deliver "Casey at the Bat" passionately and verbatim. My prize was to re/present it to the entire school over the loudspeaker...which I choked and had to revert to the printed text. But we all laughed, and cried, and hurled. A beautiful thang...

It wasn't all sunshine and roses, however. That vâche Sharon Eisenkraft beat me for the last place on the class spelling bee team. She probably studied (which for me meant it didn't count, if you, like, tried to learn it rather than already know it). To this day whenever I encounter the word occurrence I remember it's got two Rs and then I burst into tears over my secret shame.

*sob*

Comments

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

What is with and the snazzy outfits for each picture?

My Mother has spelling bee trauma that is forty years old.

[jawnbc]

I refused....REFUSED...to wear anything but snazzy slacks and tops from Sears until grade 6. I only wore jeans under penalty of torture from my (oh my gawd is there anything normal about this one?) parents.

Thank Jaysus there's no photographic legacy of the slacks and poly "Disco Stu" set, complete with scarf tied around the neck.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Goodness. Signs were on the wall weren't they. Makes me think of one of my oldest friends. He and I have been friends since we were three years old. Dearest and best friend ever. He wore lovely sweater-vests when we were in primary school. He used to help me take care of my dolls when we were in nursery school together and I recall he loved to wear cowboy boots.

He wore a delightful orange shirt to my wedding.

[le-lapin.livejournal.com]

[jawnbc]

Grrrr....vas te faire enculer-là! Ou, peut-être me faire! :D

[puzzld1.livejournal.com]

you were adorable!!!

[jawnbc]

aw thanks. How's appendix boy?

[puzzld1.livejournal.com]

The lad is mending. Now we just need to get the university to leave him alone. Med students are an insecure bunch

[danbearnyc.livejournal.com]

It is scary how much this picture looks like my evil younger brother Officer Simmonds. Shocking. Really scarily shocking.

[jawnbc]

Oh come on now, there are only about 5 variations on the Irish face. And certainly only 3 archetypal schnozzes.

[danbearnyc.livejournal.com]

No really, it's the age dynamic - you match at the right point though he has blonder hair. It's odd, as he's aged he's begun to look like me, which he does not like.

At mother's wake his entire precinct showed up, and over half of them came over to me thinking I was my brother (I was beardless then). Little Brother was NOT amused.