What I Learned Growing Up in Wilkes-Barre

1. Don't leave your prized violin outside the band room of the high school.

2. Don't count on the river always staying in its banks.

3. Wear warm clothing to football games.

4. Hot chocolate can burn your tongue.

5. Drive as if you are in slow motion on icy roads.

6. Mountaintop used to be one word.

7. Football is not the most important happening in life.

8. The ethnic groups are tight.

9. Everybody isn't your friend all the time.

10. If you live across the street from a baseball field, your car will be dented and your windows will be broken.

11. School is not cancelled for a snow day unless the bus can't make it down Bear Creek Hill.

12. Let the Major Domo pull your chair out for you.

13. Algebra teachers can be drunk in school.

14. The basketball coach can rough kids up in the classroom and get away with it.

15. Students can make student teachers cry.

16. Friends can make your life miserable. True friends are hard to find.

17. It's not what you know, it's who you know.

18. Culm banks smell bad and real spring water tastes good.

19. It's cooler in the mountains.

20. To get a job in the school district, you need to pay off somebody.

21. Sometimes people you don't like can care about you more than you know.

22. You're allowed to change your mind.

There Are No Coincidences

Wow! I am in the midst of something interesting and amazing.

My faithful friend, Joan, used to be married to a man from the UK.

So what, you say?

Well, I have stumbled across his daughter in cyberspace who is looking for her dad. It seems that the parents parted when the baby was six months old. Now the baby is grown up and has children of her own. I contacted her and gave her some info. I hope she can find him in the UK.

Move over, Maury, Oprah and Montel...I'm comin' through!

Seriously, this event gladdens my heart because I can now prove to Joan that no matter what she did, the relationship just would not work. She can put the blame and guilt away...it wasn't hers to begin with. I can't imagine how his daughter feels...or her mother. I can only hope that the children can meet their grandfather, even for an hour. It may help him sort out some hidden feelings.

Funny how these things happen, isn't it?

I'll keep you posted.

Baptismal Journey Home

I can recall a bit about my sister's baptism, and I think it's appropriate that I share that here today. She has made the journey home to the church and I admire her courage and clear-mindedness.

I couldn't see the actual baptism, but I remember the preparations clearly. Auntie Helen was the proud godmother, and as the new big sister, I got to go shopping with her for a baptismal gown for the baby. We went to Pomeroy's downtown Wilkes-Barre store, and rode the escalator downstairs to the baby section. Auntie Helen was SO excited. She picked out a pretty dress and bonnet, and got a little white sweater to go with it because "it was cold, after all...the baby will need it!" She also bought a white blanket and an egg-shaped plastic bank with some baby kind of decoration on it. We passed some silly themed bibs, too....she got one with a skunk on it that said "I'm a little stinker"...and I remember my sister wearing it when she got old enough to sit up.

Then we rode on the up escalator, which Auntie Helen didn't like too much because it made her a little dizzy. Dad picked us up and brought us home.

Our next-door neighbor, Pete Kuderski, was Helen's godfather. I don't remember too much about him being there, though. I remember it all as an exciting time...after all, I was just-turned-five and everything was pretty exciting.

Unfortunately, soon after, my sister became very sick and had to have surgery. I remember Auntie Helen praying mightily, as only Auntie Helen could, while my parents and sister were at the hospital. My brother and I listened quietly and prayed in our own way. Everything turned out well, and I thought (and still think) that Auntie Helen had something to do with the successful surgery and the quick recovery.

I think there's some dancing in heaven tonight.

God Bless You, Steve Irwin

All the Calderoni kids are quite upset about the death of one of their favorite TV personalities, Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter.

This man was bigger than life to them: brave, strong, smart, loving. One of the books we donated to the St. Ignatius School library was about him.

I think the comment that tugged at my heart the most came from Emma. She said, "Nana must be so happy, Mom." I was confused and asked her why. "Because she is going to meet Steve Irwin in heaven now."
Wow.

The kids will be sending a sympathy card to Steve's family. I am putting the address below if anybody else wants to offer their condolences.

The Steve Irwin Family
Australia Zoo
Glasshouse Mountain Tourist Rte
Beerwah QLD 4519
Australia

God, please bless this man who helped nurture my kids' love of all living creatures. His teaching ability touched many children. He wasn't perfect, but who is? Console his children and wife, and all the children who loved him. Amen.

Crikey.

Dear College Freshman

Dear College Freshman,

I have dealt with about 2000 of you, more or less, over the years, from the other side of the classroom. I've enjoyed the experience and appreciated each and every one of you. That's why I want to tell you some information that might make your life easier.

Put your name and phone number or e-mail address on everything you carry around with you. Just yesterday, I found a notebook with vital first day instructions in it. No name, no number to call...that student is frantically digging around in a backpack or desk around now. I found a laptop once, and at least a hundred umbrellas. Purses, lunches, hoodies, textbooks, money, cellphones, palm pilots, well, you get the idea....They end up stolen or in lost and found or placed on the blackboard for you to find later. If a name and contact info. was placed on these items, a quick connection would relieve some anxiety.

Read the syllabus I give you. It will help answer many of your questions. If you don't understand something that's on the syllabus, ask as soon as possible.

Take notes. Don't ask me, "should I write this down?" That's your job. Do your homework. Pull your weight in group projects. Read your assignments. Don't ask "will there be a pop quiz tomorrow?" The "pop" part of "pop quiz" means surprise.

Don't be afraid to approach me, either in person or via e-mail. I'm here to help you. I want all my students to succeed.

Understand that I have many students. Help me to remember your name. Don't send me an e-mail that asks what we did in class today. Don't send me an e-mail with your paper attached unless I ask you for it. Don't send me an e-mail asking what the assignment was when it is on the syllabus. Don't send me an e-mail asking for a good lawyer or bail.

Eat breakfast. Sleep eight hours. I know that this can be difficult, but it will help you to learn. When it's raining, take an uncool umbrella or wear a raincoat. When it's cold, wear a coat. When it snows, wear boots and warm socks. Take your hats off in class and put your hoods down. Don't put earphones in your ears anytime during class. Try to pay attention the best you can. Wear enough clothing so that I don't have to see your lime green thong. Thank you.

Keep in touch with your family and friends. You are not alone and they truly want to hear from you. Don't work too many hours if you can help it. Care for your spirituality; go to church or temple or mosque, join an appropriate campus group and spend time with that group. It's good for you. Trust me on that one.

Just because professors went to school a long time doesn't mean they know everything. Don't swallow somebody else's political or moral or social views whole. Analyze. Decide what is right according to how you view the world and how you were raised. There's a very thin line here, so be careful, like you are careful with all media.

Respect the opposite sex. Don't take advantage or abuse anyone. Don't let anyone take advantage or abuse you. Don't leave any drink unattended at any time.

Don't drink or do drugs unless those drugs are prescribed by your doctor. Sure, it's cool and sometimes fun, but most times it's a disaster. Don't come to class drunk or high...certainly don't drive or walk around town, either. Try not to be in a hurry to move out of the dorms. Sometimes that brings a whole set of problems and failures. Find a roommate you can get along with, even if it's only for a semester. Find a dorm floor that allows you to sleep and study. Respect others' sleep and study times.

If you are sick, go to the health center or doctor RIGHT AWAY. Don't come to class if you have a fever or feel as if you will vomit. If you are stressed or nervous, talk to our campus counselors. That's what they are there for...you are in transition if you are a first year freshman. That's not easy.

Try to leave your car at home if possible. Again, it's a whole set of problems. If you don't need to commute or drive to work, leave it at home.

Turn your cell phones off during classes or lectures. Look both ways when you cross the street! I've seen numerous students with near misses on Main Street and am amazed at the number who simply think those white lines in the crosswalk will protect them from a moving vehicle.

Don't give me an attitude because I'm trying to teach you to be a better writer or reader. I'm glad you got all A grades in high school. Good for you, but this paper is a C. Do you want to know how to get it to be an A? Then listen to what I'm telling you, and stop grousing. Get tutors or visit writing centers or math labs for help as soon as you have a problem. Make an appointment to see me during my office hours so that I can help you.

Use black ink and have an extra ink cartridge on hand. Print out your paper the night before. Use Times Roman, not some fancy script I can't read. Use white paper with nothing written on the other side of it. Staple your papers together before class.

I care about your success as a student and a person, but I cannot replace the people who raised you and love you the most. Those are the folks who will hopefully help you with any problem you run into. Trust them. I wish you a good semester.