*Hence, the kind of world we live in.

I will deprogram my brain, I will start to put emphasis on recalling the names of only the kind ones. And allowing the names of the unkind ones to fade to black.

But, about “You’re Never Too Big,” I can attest to this & second this emotion–returned to school at the ripe age of 41. They accepted all of my credits from the ’90s, a total blissing, and I look forward to finally finishing [this time] next year. This blog is definitely motivation, Lady S. ThAnkhs.

P.S. At first I thought it would be a blog about weight loss. Smiles…

This touched me deeply. My mother’s father was also a sharecropper–and you are right, that makes the entire family sharecroppers. I recently learned that one of my mother’s brothers, furious at his father for the cycle of debt, just left the farm with no word. I also learned that my grandfather fell into a terrible depression (and maybe Alzheimer’s disease?) because of his “inability” to “do better” by his family. I have to send your column to my mother…thank you for sharing this.

I REMEMBER IN CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN MY SIXTH-GRADE CLASS MY TEACHER.. SISTER ST. WILLIAM HIT ME WITH A YARD STICK (Used As A Pointer.) She exclaimed “Now you know better to fall asleep in my classroom!” I told Mommy that afternoon and all she said was, “Served You Right!”

That night I looked to my Dad for comfort but as children we knew not to bother him while he sat on his upholstered chair reading the DAILY NEWSPAPER! That next day after school I decided to visit daddy at his job and remembered how adamant he became after hearing my side of the story. I remembered no response was made about school. All I can visualize is watching him walk to the back of his shop and told me to head on home/be careful crossing the streets/and no talking to strangers…as he sat on an unfinished chair and eating a sweet potato wrapped in aluminum foil.

To my surprise I was called to the principal’s office that next morning(which was another story of embarrassment) and I saw my Dad talking to Sister Mary Arthur and he said no..I want to see her teacher too! I can still picture his face as he looked at Sister St William later with a stern remark saying slowly.. “As long as God breathe breath in your body, don’t you ever hit my daughter with a stick again!” If she does this again, just call my house or here…here is my number at work!” (something like that)

I remember Mommy saying to her friend Love W. on the phone over and over again. “I cannot believe that man left his job to go to her school!”

I never got in trouble for sleeping in school again for I had an earlier bed time (now remember I was a sixth grader and they made sure I was in my bottom bunk!) lol WOW..I’M PUTTING PIECES BACK IN THE PUZZLE!

I must disagree with you because when I was having all that trouble mastering that Trigonometry Class In The 12th Grade..All I Remember Daddy Talking About is YOU BETTER GRADUATE THIS YEAR..ALL I HAD WAS A SEVENTH-GRADE EDUCATION! YOU JUST GOT TO DO BETTER! (Many of nights I rode the train home with the employed commuters in the dark.. but I passed that first-period class to get that diploma!) Thanks Again For Taking Us Back.. So We Can Navigate Our Forths With Relayed Fortitude!! Okay..Deb!