I removed the last post.
I don't want to disclose my student's information, but that doesn't change my anger or outrage.

Remember that you have a voice. Remember to have a voice.

A Very Brave Man.

I met a Very Brave Man last week at physical therapy. He was in a house fire and was burned all over. He doesn't remember most of it. He was burned so badly that the doctors induced a coma. They didn't really think that he would recover to the extent that he has.

But there he was. Living, breathing, and walking, even if it was slowly and uncertain. He was a Very Brave Man. I am more than thankful to have met him. His gentle spirit, but determined spirit has left an impression on me that I can't forget.

all those bittersweet things
won't be so bittersweet one day.

"peace train sound it louder...."
-the man, cat stevens.

Forrest Gump

For the record: I am calling this student J-man in this blog because it as about as appropriate as I can get. There is actually another student that I call J-man because his belt buckle is a giant J with rhinestones all over it, but since this story is not about him, I'm ok with it.

Every Monday and Wednesday I get to work around noon or one. Every Monday and Wednesday, the first thing I see is J-man waving all crazy like at me. That is really what I hope my welcome to heaven is like because, on a day-to-day basis, no one ever is that excited to see me. It makes me feel pretty good.

Every Monday and Wednesday, I say, "Hey J-man, how you doin'?" and look down to see what he's working on. And every Monday and Wednesday, it is the same: basic multiplication. I'm not sure how long J-man has been trying to get the concept of multiplication, but one thing is for sure: he has been dong the same work sheets for the last three weeks. Every time starts off the same. I remind him that 3x2 means that you have 2 groups of 3 or 3 groups of 2. He gets it for about 2 seconds. I walk away, and then things really fall apart.

Even though he doesn't get the multiplication, and I am positive he had some sort of undiagnosed learning disability or special need, it isn't discouraging for the J-man. He "don't let life get 'em down" because he "go to church every Sunday, Molly, every Sunday." Plus he got himself a fine "baby girl" [girlfriend] to talk to on the phone about the new Hannah Montana movie that is coming out in April (it's already marked on his calendar).

Today J-man was in rare form.

Fidelity

J-man: I saw you at the store this weekend, Molly.

m: Oh yeah at the grocery? Why didn't you say hi?

j-man: I was in my friend's mom's car. I couldn't get out. (Brief pause where he only looks at 5x1) Did you take that survey?

[The survey was about Katrina, and was being solicited by some pretty college-age girls.]

j-man: Yeah. I did get out the car for that. Axually, my friend's mom told me to get out of the car for that. They were....

m: They were really pretty, weren't they?

j-man: Yeah....I...I...I flirted a lil bit. And it's okay because I'm only partially attached. So I flirted.

m: [quizzical look] You mean...?

j-man: My girlfriend lives in California, so it's okay.

I was laughing so hard that I couldn't sit up straight. His relationship advice was off the chain.

Forrest Gump

J-man: Molly, you got 50 cent?

M: No.

J-man: I gotta walk home. I was hoping to catch the bus. But....I be like, like the black version of Forrest Gump! I loooove Forrest Gump!

The J-man didn't know how dead on he was. Or maybe he did. But that's exACTly who he is.

myspace

J-man: Molly, you on myspace?

M: [not feeling guilty for lying] No.

J-man: Man. I got soooo many friends. I got about 800 hundred friends. Lots of really pretty girls, too. Reaaaaal pretty girls!

M: [really not feeling bad any more. obviously, i'd only be a number.] Wow.

J-man: Yeah, when I was in school, people used to call me stupid and retarded. But NOW LOOK AT ME! Where were they back then?! I bet they're sorry! [pops his collar a lil bit.]

Forrest Gump Cont'd or Are you Trying to Impress Me?

J-man: You know what I did today?

M: [frustrated that he has not been doing his multiplication] What?

J-man: This lady came up to me, and she wasn't around here, like she didn't sound like she was around here. And she said, "'scuse me, sir, you have a dollar?" So I gave her a dollar. It wasn't like it was anything. I mean, I'd probably go try to buy something I didn't need. It wasn't anything to me.

M: [if you had kept your dollar, you wouldn't be asking me for 50 cent.]

Breakthrough?

I really enjoy working with J-man, and today I really think we made a break through. I think he is finally starting to understand the concept of multiplication. I gave him a pile of paper clips so that we could count out the answer to each problem. It seemed mildly successful.

We'll see what the self-proclaimed black Forrest Gump will bring for me on Thursday.....