Instead of the usual eight minute block devoted to all things maths, I was sent to the forum for a free period. I was told that I could either stay or flex my senior privileges and leave. I decided that I would stay and do my best to fill out a few more scholarships (God knows I could use it). After about three more applications were canned, my favorite substitute walked through the double doors and greeted me with a crushing handshake and warm smile. He asked if he could sit down next to me; the seeds of a great conversation had been sown.
We stated off talking about my brother and his purchasing of a home, his girlfriend, and how he was generally doing overall. Eventually we moved on to talking about what my plans for the future are, and what employment opportunities I have in front of me. Eventually we moved to his college days of hard mental labor mixed with a steady hand of discipline; he didn't leave out any detail about how hard it was. The work he put in during his schooling was paramount; while others were out "doing what you're supposed to do in college" he was studying. By no means was he the brightest student at school, but he was the hardest working and most driven. He told me that his mother was forced to leave school and never graduated high school. She was the reason why he worked so hard. Education was his way to make something of himself.
As the conversation went on, I realized that this man had seen the world and worked in places some could only dream of. His work ethic and sheer grit allowed him to break down barriers that at one time seems miles high. Near the end of our conversation, he look over at me and said
"Kid, this world is yours-albeit very different from my time- it is yours. You are lucky to be where you are right now, and you've been blessed with a good family, athletic prowess, and most of all a good head on your shoulders. You'll go far, I'm sure of it."
These words had a profound effect on me. I realized that I really had a direction in life, and I wanted to do what I am going to do. The culmination of all the doubts, worries, wonders, and excitement had all come out during this conversation, and it felt good. My decisions and his stories seemed to line up; I learned much about the opportunities out there.
To leave you with a final thought,
"Always talk to the old people. They've already done it."
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Friday, April 17, 2015
A Throw Back
This was a piece of writing I did last summer. I remember writing it on my way home from Winslow after a long day moving furniture for my grandmother. Anyway, I hope that this shows how much I've grown over the past year (and I will still continue to grow!). So, here's to nostalgia.
It was a beautiful day, and my family went for an ice cream in mother’s hometown.
The smile on your face greeted me with an unmatched warmth that I’ve never experienced before. What set you apart from every other member of the service industry was you first words to me. They were far from the typical demands for patronage, but a simple “how are you today?” My reply was of the same brand of simplicity, but heartfelt nonetheless. You laughed and smiled. I laughed and smiled too. But time wasn’t on our side; business was at hand.
When you asked for my order, it was as if you waited for more than just a simple flavor. You looked longingly into my eyes, and I looked back with the same passion. When the flavor escaped from my mouth, you listened for more than just the correct cone.
As I handed you the correct amount of paper currency, your fingers lingered upon mine. I wasn’t expecting you to do this, but I welcomed the action and reciprocated with laugh-smile combo. As you broke my ten, the change bag zipper acted as if it were cemented in its position. Eventually you wrestled it free, and out fingertips met again with the exchange of the correct change.
The minutes that ensued the transaction were filled with speculation. I wrote down my number on a napkin, but the true question remained. Was I going to give it to you? As you handed out the cones, the number rested in my pocket. I missed my chance, but you still put a smile on my face.
Isn’t that what is important?
It was a beautiful day, and my family went for an ice cream in mother’s hometown.
The smile on your face greeted me with an unmatched warmth that I’ve never experienced before. What set you apart from every other member of the service industry was you first words to me. They were far from the typical demands for patronage, but a simple “how are you today?” My reply was of the same brand of simplicity, but heartfelt nonetheless. You laughed and smiled. I laughed and smiled too. But time wasn’t on our side; business was at hand.
When you asked for my order, it was as if you waited for more than just a simple flavor. You looked longingly into my eyes, and I looked back with the same passion. When the flavor escaped from my mouth, you listened for more than just the correct cone.
As I handed you the correct amount of paper currency, your fingers lingered upon mine. I wasn’t expecting you to do this, but I welcomed the action and reciprocated with laugh-smile combo. As you broke my ten, the change bag zipper acted as if it were cemented in its position. Eventually you wrestled it free, and out fingertips met again with the exchange of the correct change.
The minutes that ensued the transaction were filled with speculation. I wrote down my number on a napkin, but the true question remained. Was I going to give it to you? As you handed out the cones, the number rested in my pocket. I missed my chance, but you still put a smile on my face.
Isn’t that what is important?
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Dancing in a burning room
"Holy Sh- Look at that sun coming closer and closer!"
Damn, we had some great times!
Indeed my friends, we are hurtling towards the sun
faster than we ever have before-
BUUUUUTTTTT
The dance party that is going
on in the parking lot is amazing!
All music is now free to download
because of doomsday, so
we literally have more good times
than days left!
"Turn that sh- UP!"
"Turn that sh- UP!"
Have you ever had that feeling?
Your world is about to burn to bits
and you,
standing where you are
smiling
move closer and closer to the speakers
to draw a breath-
of escape!
If only this moment could last forever!
My legs on fire (from both the heat of
Armageddon and the pulse of trumpets)
and I see you dancing across from me
*High Five*
Wooh! Now your eyeballs are melting
but we both smile because of the
memories we made
when the water wasn't boiling.
All those warm summer days
spent on the diamond
playing in the haze
and in the sand.
All the ska-punk adventures
and massive scootering gangs!
Damn, we had some great times!
So bring on the heat
bring on the fires
and bring on the change!
We will dance in the face of your
flamethrowers!
Excuse me now, the house is
in flames! I need to change my CD!
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Escape To Disconnect
"I need you to relax. Please, I can't hold you down while we do this. Pam, please calm the boy down. I can't risk hurting him anymore" a hand runs though my hair. "Shhh son. You'll be okay, I promise. Go to your happy place. Go far away from here...
I see you
and the sunset
your hair dancing in the wind
The strands do a red tango
across an invisible dance floor
and you whisper something
in my ear-
I can't quite place the color
but I couldn't care less.
You laugh at the joke
I crack, and roll over
on your side
messing up the blanket
spread out on the grass.
The wind is picking up-
the dancers are in cut time now
and twice as amazing.
I take a blurry picture
of you
You laugh at how awful
you look-
But I couldn't care less.
We see the sun kiss
with the horizon-
and the beach is empty
except for the squirrels above in
the big pine
This is perfect
this is a moment I never want to end
But-
My fingers are afraid
but yours are not
They find me first and
intertwine like the few
fleeting moments we spend
in each other's shadow.
fleeting moments we spend
in each other's shadow.
You stare into the eventide
and you have never looked
more red-yellow.
I say to myself
'What a wonderful-'
"You can relax now; the tube is in and you should see that bag fill up with fluid. Call in a nurse when it reaches that line. I know you'll be tough, but we gave you some of these to take the edge off a bit. We're here to help you pal, so don't hesitate. You've got quite the story to tell."
Stars
When you look to the sky at night
do you see yourself?
-or the countless opportunities for
change; something omnipresent
or something tangible and real?
When you lay you head down at night
do you feel happiness?
-a resounding symphony of fireworks
exploding in unison
at the snap of your fingertips?
When you see their face
do you see the smile grow?
Or do they pretend not to see you
searching for their muddied glance?
You yearn for a response
-but you know it wont come
no matter how hard you pry.
Honestly, what were you thinking?
You knew it was never meant to be
the differences too great and
the time you never had.
You were in over your head, champ.
Forget about it, right?
Move on. Move away (soon enough).
Maybe it isn't them, maybe it what
they made you feel
-something you haven't felt
in such a long long time since.
Months later, you still miss
that feeling, and you pray to
God that he helps
and he does in his own way.
You understand this,
but you don't understand this
but you don't question this
-its not who you are.
Who are you, anyway?
Besides what you see in the mirror,
who are you?
You are a star up above
an opportunity
a chance to breath new air
and exhale a thousand crystals
more valuable than diamonds
more valuable than gold
more valuable than that feeling
you once had.
Just breathe!
do you see yourself?
-or the countless opportunities for
change; something omnipresent
or something tangible and real?
When you lay you head down at night
do you feel happiness?
-a resounding symphony of fireworks
exploding in unison
at the snap of your fingertips?
When you see their face
do you see the smile grow?
Or do they pretend not to see you
searching for their muddied glance?
You yearn for a response
-but you know it wont come
no matter how hard you pry.
Honestly, what were you thinking?
You knew it was never meant to be
the differences too great and
the time you never had.
You were in over your head, champ.
Forget about it, right?
Move on. Move away (soon enough).
Maybe it isn't them, maybe it what
they made you feel
-something you haven't felt
in such a long long time since.
Months later, you still miss
that feeling, and you pray to
God that he helps
and he does in his own way.
You understand this,
but you don't understand this
but you don't question this
-its not who you are.
Who are you, anyway?
Besides what you see in the mirror,
who are you?
You are a star up above
an opportunity
a chance to breath new air
and exhale a thousand crystals
more valuable than diamonds
more valuable than gold
more valuable than that feeling
you once had.
Just breathe!
3x3s For Poetry Compilation
Great Balancing Act
Will Remain Strange
YOU'll MOVE MOUNTAINS!
Companionship Reamin Unwavering
Loving Licks Await
Come Home! WOOF
Friday, April 10, 2015
Prototype Mark V.1.0
This graphic is supposed to be a rough-cut of what we could put on the side of our Jenga Block creation. I know we have moved away from that a little bit, but I still wanted to pursue this idea a little more deeply. As you faintly see, the entire "Poem" by Lucy Ives is sprawled out throughout the graphic. However, the writing is very faint and hard to make out. On the left, you can see the three by three I distilled from this poem. The rest of the graphic is up to interpretation for the viewer! I understand that this poem was not exactly the most happy in nature, but I just wanted to get a sense for what could be done.
Either way, I enjoyed the process.
AF
What Passion Looks Like
Below is one of my essays that I wrote recently. It is about something I love with all my heart and will always love as long as I am on this earth.
Football has always been more than a game to me. I’ve truly grown up around the sport, and I owe many great moments to it. This game has shaped me, and allowed me to be the person that I am. I was first introduced to the game through my brother,(Senior Captain) Garrett Strout, and my father, Peter Franchetti. My Dad was the offensive line coach for Gary Parlin at the time, and my brother was the center for the 2003 and 2004 Mt. Blue Football team. I can remember watching my brother put on his helmet and my Dad patting him on the shoulder pads, giving him a nod of approval.
After my brother graduated and I grew a little bit older, my Dad asked me if I would like to be the waterboy for the JV games (he also called the plays for the JV team). I will admit I was a little tentative at first; the hulking masses of beef stood almost double my height and sometime four or five times my width, but I eventually replied with an earnest yes.
From that point on, I carried the water for the Cougars. The flashes of blue and gold were constantly rushing around me. Everyday after school I would catch the bus up to the high school to see my long time friend, waterboy, coach’s son, and teammate Isaac Collins. Together we would watch our fathers mold young men into football players. Summers came and went; each brought new faces and seemingly bigger bodies. Friday nights came faster, and the time spent under the lights felt more and more like home. Each game, Isaac and I would do our part to help our big brothers win. Our commitment to the team never wavered. We would be steadfast; in good times or bad we were always Cougars and we bled blue and gold.
I remember one Friday night vividly. I couldn’t have been more than twelve years old. The Cougars were taking on the Rams (from Bangor). We were down at the half, and some of the boys looked defeated. At that moment, a group of seniors stood in front of the team, addressing them on the opportunity they had. The Seniors reminded them of their teammates who were hurt, and may never play again. They reminded them of the work they put in during the summer, and of all the hours in the weightroom. A new look came over the team; they looked excited. They realized what the leaders were telling them. Mt. Blue sang the school song that night on Caldwell Field. They came back from brink of defeat, and pulled out a victory.
I learned something about the game that night. I learned what a good leader is, and how to lead by example. I knew I wanted to be like my brother and the captains that day. Some school kids dream of wearing a police officer’s uniform, or becoming an astronaut. All I ever wanted to do was to wear the colors of the school and be a Cougar.
The days spent dreaming walking out of the Cougar Cave, down onto the parking lot, and onto Caldwell field were over. My freshman year was finally here. All the time spent playing youth football had prepared me for this moment. I remember the first day of summer practice. My Mom was about to send another son to football, and she had prepared me a breakfast like no other. It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, and she smiled as I walked out the door. When my Dad and I got to the field, he patted me on the back and told me that now it was my turn to to wear the blue and gold. I felt extremely proud, and I marched into the locker room.The practice went well, but then came conditioning. I learned another valuable lesson; never eat too much before practice. The ride home was also filled with smiles, but this time it was my Dad’s face that was grinning ear to ear.
This pattern has stayed true during the span of my football life. My freshman year, I broke my wrist in the first scrimmage of the year. I was out for most of the season and I had never been so crushed in my life. I would have gone insane if I hadn’t been a kicker. As my the coaches told me, “Your wrist is a long ways from your leg.” The next year, the team won a State Title and I claimed the school’s record for most Extra Points in a season. The title was a dream come true, and I could write a thousand page book about the season. However, I also injured myself that year. My shoulder came out of place that year for the first time. I never outran this injury, but I vowed to never let it sideline me. My Junior and Senior years were spent persevering through the pain of this injury. I never missed a practice because of it. There were times that everything in the world was telling me to stop playing the game that I loved so much, but I wouldn’t let anything get in the way. My brothers and I were a unit; a family that shared a bond. We needed each other out there on the gridiron. We vowed never to let each other down, and thats what we did. We all played as hard as we could for as long as we could. Together, we regret nothing.
I would not have been able to get as far as I did without the team and family that surrounds me. Football has always taught me to push myself as hard I can. I’ve carried this notion from the field to the classroom. The honors classes and AP classes became harder and more challenging, but they were equally rewarding. The work put into these classes matched the time spent on field. Football has made me push myself in this regard. As Coach Collins would say when the Cougars were up big, “Never be satisfied!” An eighty-five was never good enough. This attitude allowed me to gain high honors through my schooling career. I am thankful for the teachers that also pushed me to more than I ever thought I could be.
Giving back to a community that has given me so much was also (and still is) paramount to any football player. The team would often times go down to local nursing home and visit with the elderly. It was truly a rewarding experience to meet with the men and women that were in my position many years ago. I was also fortunate enough to be able to volunteer and eventually be hired by the Town of Wilton’s Recreation Department. I am currently a certified swim instructor and work in a program that has about one-hundred to one-hundred fifty kids a year. I was once a participant in this program, and to go full circle is one of the best things I’ve ever done (and hopefully this attitude will continue).
To desire is to need. To persevere is to continue in tough situations. My career as a Mt. Blue Cougar has shown me every facet of the game, and has allowed me to be more than just a football player. It has shaped me into a young man that has a better understanding of how the world works, the difference between right and wrong, and the understanding that hard work comes with rewards. I’ve done things the right way and I have no regrets with either my football career, my schooling career, and in my life. This game has shown me what it means to “do things the right way.” I am so blessed to be apart of this family, school community, and community at large. These moments have meant the world to me. Now it is my turn to go full circle, and be apart of something I love. My hope is to make the same positive impact as the community, coaches, teammates, and family has made on me.
Football has always been more than a game to me. I’ve truly grown up around the sport, and I owe many great moments to it. This game has shaped me, and allowed me to be the person that I am. I was first introduced to the game through my brother,(Senior Captain) Garrett Strout, and my father, Peter Franchetti. My Dad was the offensive line coach for Gary Parlin at the time, and my brother was the center for the 2003 and 2004 Mt. Blue Football team. I can remember watching my brother put on his helmet and my Dad patting him on the shoulder pads, giving him a nod of approval.
After my brother graduated and I grew a little bit older, my Dad asked me if I would like to be the waterboy for the JV games (he also called the plays for the JV team). I will admit I was a little tentative at first; the hulking masses of beef stood almost double my height and sometime four or five times my width, but I eventually replied with an earnest yes.
From that point on, I carried the water for the Cougars. The flashes of blue and gold were constantly rushing around me. Everyday after school I would catch the bus up to the high school to see my long time friend, waterboy, coach’s son, and teammate Isaac Collins. Together we would watch our fathers mold young men into football players. Summers came and went; each brought new faces and seemingly bigger bodies. Friday nights came faster, and the time spent under the lights felt more and more like home. Each game, Isaac and I would do our part to help our big brothers win. Our commitment to the team never wavered. We would be steadfast; in good times or bad we were always Cougars and we bled blue and gold.
I remember one Friday night vividly. I couldn’t have been more than twelve years old. The Cougars were taking on the Rams (from Bangor). We were down at the half, and some of the boys looked defeated. At that moment, a group of seniors stood in front of the team, addressing them on the opportunity they had. The Seniors reminded them of their teammates who were hurt, and may never play again. They reminded them of the work they put in during the summer, and of all the hours in the weightroom. A new look came over the team; they looked excited. They realized what the leaders were telling them. Mt. Blue sang the school song that night on Caldwell Field. They came back from brink of defeat, and pulled out a victory.
I learned something about the game that night. I learned what a good leader is, and how to lead by example. I knew I wanted to be like my brother and the captains that day. Some school kids dream of wearing a police officer’s uniform, or becoming an astronaut. All I ever wanted to do was to wear the colors of the school and be a Cougar.
The days spent dreaming walking out of the Cougar Cave, down onto the parking lot, and onto Caldwell field were over. My freshman year was finally here. All the time spent playing youth football had prepared me for this moment. I remember the first day of summer practice. My Mom was about to send another son to football, and she had prepared me a breakfast like no other. It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, and she smiled as I walked out the door. When my Dad and I got to the field, he patted me on the back and told me that now it was my turn to to wear the blue and gold. I felt extremely proud, and I marched into the locker room.The practice went well, but then came conditioning. I learned another valuable lesson; never eat too much before practice. The ride home was also filled with smiles, but this time it was my Dad’s face that was grinning ear to ear.
This pattern has stayed true during the span of my football life. My freshman year, I broke my wrist in the first scrimmage of the year. I was out for most of the season and I had never been so crushed in my life. I would have gone insane if I hadn’t been a kicker. As my the coaches told me, “Your wrist is a long ways from your leg.” The next year, the team won a State Title and I claimed the school’s record for most Extra Points in a season. The title was a dream come true, and I could write a thousand page book about the season. However, I also injured myself that year. My shoulder came out of place that year for the first time. I never outran this injury, but I vowed to never let it sideline me. My Junior and Senior years were spent persevering through the pain of this injury. I never missed a practice because of it. There were times that everything in the world was telling me to stop playing the game that I loved so much, but I wouldn’t let anything get in the way. My brothers and I were a unit; a family that shared a bond. We needed each other out there on the gridiron. We vowed never to let each other down, and thats what we did. We all played as hard as we could for as long as we could. Together, we regret nothing.
I would not have been able to get as far as I did without the team and family that surrounds me. Football has always taught me to push myself as hard I can. I’ve carried this notion from the field to the classroom. The honors classes and AP classes became harder and more challenging, but they were equally rewarding. The work put into these classes matched the time spent on field. Football has made me push myself in this regard. As Coach Collins would say when the Cougars were up big, “Never be satisfied!” An eighty-five was never good enough. This attitude allowed me to gain high honors through my schooling career. I am thankful for the teachers that also pushed me to more than I ever thought I could be.
Giving back to a community that has given me so much was also (and still is) paramount to any football player. The team would often times go down to local nursing home and visit with the elderly. It was truly a rewarding experience to meet with the men and women that were in my position many years ago. I was also fortunate enough to be able to volunteer and eventually be hired by the Town of Wilton’s Recreation Department. I am currently a certified swim instructor and work in a program that has about one-hundred to one-hundred fifty kids a year. I was once a participant in this program, and to go full circle is one of the best things I’ve ever done (and hopefully this attitude will continue).
To desire is to need. To persevere is to continue in tough situations. My career as a Mt. Blue Cougar has shown me every facet of the game, and has allowed me to be more than just a football player. It has shaped me into a young man that has a better understanding of how the world works, the difference between right and wrong, and the understanding that hard work comes with rewards. I’ve done things the right way and I have no regrets with either my football career, my schooling career, and in my life. This game has shown me what it means to “do things the right way.” I am so blessed to be apart of this family, school community, and community at large. These moments have meant the world to me. Now it is my turn to go full circle, and be apart of something I love. My hope is to make the same positive impact as the community, coaches, teammates, and family has made on me.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
$$$ vs B')
The deposit has been sent. I repeat, the deposit has been sent.
It's official, I have chosen a college and I have never felt more relieved. The copious amounts of stress I have been feeling have run off my back. The burden of decision is far gone and distant. I feel confident and genuinely excited to move on to the next stage of my life. I have a direction. I know where it is. I have goals and wants that are attainably albeit lofty in some respects.
But what about the rest of senior year?
Oh, thats right. I don't graduate tomorrow. I don't leave for school moments after the diploma. I still have one last summer to enjoy before the reality of adulthood falls into my lap. What am I going to do with this summer ahead of me? (Their are two sides to this story)
Firstly; I need to work. College is soul crushingly expensive. Unfortunately, my school of choice is not known for its gratuitous amount of student aid. However, you reassured a high paying job upon graduation; an investment to put it plainly. In order to defray this cost, I hope to make as much money as I can as soon as possible to get a head start on this debt. I have applied to the mill (you know, the big smoky dying thing that somehow stays afloat...) for summer help. The work I would be doing wouldn't be fun or remotely emotionally rewarding, but it would be extremely well paying. We're talking about making a solid fifteen to twenty thousand in one single summer. It comes with a price though. Shift work (twelve hour shifts plus overtime) wears down the worker. Almost all of my uncles have worked in a mill of some sort, and they all have told me that the work 'sucks' but the money is 'wicked.'
If I am accepted, my summer life would change so much. I love to be outside and to play baseball, but working in the mill will take all that away in exchange for some green paper. In addition to all of that, this will be the last opportunity I will have to be a true teenager of summer: camping trips, road extravaganzas, baseball games, tan skin, the smell of fresh cut grass and scorching beach days. This was the essence of last summer, but when it comes down to it I worked my ass off and only made two thousand buckaroos.
Basically, it comes down to "When do I want to grow up and make an adult decision?" Money is important and so is happiness. The future is important, but so is the present. Yet again, I find myself at another crossroads. One fork leads down the path to adulthood and less total debt, the other an overwhelming debt and teenage freedom. Either way I will be one poor sum'bitch.
Growing up is weird.
It's official, I have chosen a college and I have never felt more relieved. The copious amounts of stress I have been feeling have run off my back. The burden of decision is far gone and distant. I feel confident and genuinely excited to move on to the next stage of my life. I have a direction. I know where it is. I have goals and wants that are attainably albeit lofty in some respects.
But what about the rest of senior year?
Oh, thats right. I don't graduate tomorrow. I don't leave for school moments after the diploma. I still have one last summer to enjoy before the reality of adulthood falls into my lap. What am I going to do with this summer ahead of me? (Their are two sides to this story)
Firstly; I need to work. College is soul crushingly expensive. Unfortunately, my school of choice is not known for its gratuitous amount of student aid. However, you reassured a high paying job upon graduation; an investment to put it plainly. In order to defray this cost, I hope to make as much money as I can as soon as possible to get a head start on this debt. I have applied to the mill (you know, the big smoky dying thing that somehow stays afloat...) for summer help. The work I would be doing wouldn't be fun or remotely emotionally rewarding, but it would be extremely well paying. We're talking about making a solid fifteen to twenty thousand in one single summer. It comes with a price though. Shift work (twelve hour shifts plus overtime) wears down the worker. Almost all of my uncles have worked in a mill of some sort, and they all have told me that the work 'sucks' but the money is 'wicked.'
If I am accepted, my summer life would change so much. I love to be outside and to play baseball, but working in the mill will take all that away in exchange for some green paper. In addition to all of that, this will be the last opportunity I will have to be a true teenager of summer: camping trips, road extravaganzas, baseball games, tan skin, the smell of fresh cut grass and scorching beach days. This was the essence of last summer, but when it comes down to it I worked my ass off and only made two thousand buckaroos.
Basically, it comes down to "When do I want to grow up and make an adult decision?" Money is important and so is happiness. The future is important, but so is the present. Yet again, I find myself at another crossroads. One fork leads down the path to adulthood and less total debt, the other an overwhelming debt and teenage freedom. Either way I will be one poor sum'bitch.
Growing up is weird.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)