670 miles: The 48 hours of Indiana, The 3 hours of Illinois

(Music Selected - "All I Want" - Toad the Wet Sprocket)

Disclaimer: The entry you are about to read is true, the names are not changed to protect the innocent, much less those who remain guilty as charged for some unknown reason.

For starters, having to travel through 6 states in 2 days is actually a pretty nice little record. MD, PA, WV, OH, IN, and IL

To My Former St. Paul Classmates,

I've been in touch with our first grade teacher, Mrs. Robinson, for some time now and I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go see her. I didn't realize how close she lived to Indianapolis. So on Wednesday, October 30th, we made plans to hang out as I saw that she only lived but 90 miles outside of where I was heading that weekend: Indianapolis, Indiana. We departed October 31st.

I wanted to give you guys an update on how she's doing because I went in person across the border in Illinois to go see her. Everything just came together.

On November 1st, I was in Indianapolis to take family to a Taylor Swift concert, and taking care of a mission of getting past all the Taylor Swift fans and so on... It was nice to be in Grand Wagoneer rental and hearing nothing but quiet and some time to think about what I am going to say to my old first grade teacher. I think we were just going to regale the past and look forward to what we are doing for the future.

As I went to the Vermilion Beer Company, a Potter-fest was going on, and they asked if I was a Harry Potter fan.

The answer is no, I am not at all a Harry Potter fan.

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As I arrived, we gave each other a big hug and we were so happy to see each other. We sat there and just regaled former memories and had a lot of laughs about past students and what she's been up to and same goes for what I've been up to.

Well for starters, we all grew up of course. She knows I've been struggling with a few things in my life but that's all right, everyone will struggle or fail at something. But another thing is this: Failures that mount up, there will always be the one success that arguably makes you successful.

But we talked about her past students and what everyone's been up to... She's not on facebook too much.

We talked about my class and who's she's heard from and hasn't heard from. We had a lot of laughs.

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This was my very first trip to the Land of Lincoln and I'll tell you, Danville, IL, despite the abandonment had tremendous community and a lot of people know Mrs. Robinson.

We went to dinner at the Deluxe Diner where she got in contact with my mom. Yeah, you know my mom, she'll talk your ear off, for as many of you know her.

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So I created this entry because Mrs. Robinson has something to say to everyone:

Dear former students,

It was such fun and a nice surprise to reminisce with Joshua in Danville, Illinois. He filled me in on your adult lives. Forgive me if I think of you as first graders still. 😂 

Thank you for the privilege of being your teacher 31 years ago. Each one of you brought unique, interesting and bright insights to our classroom family. May God continue to bless your lives.

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You see, Mrs. Robinson touched all of our lives in some way, shape or fashion. She had something great to say to everyone.

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Anyway, we said our goodbyes and I'll tell you, probably one of the best 3 hours and biggest lifesaver I've ever encountered as 2024 has been an extremely tough year for me. I kind of also have to thank my niece for even getting the Taylor Swift tickets or this would not have been possible.

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Simply put, this is the greatest 670 miles I've ever driven.

On your corner and in your corner of Altavue, Waveland, and Old Frederick

(Songs of the day: "No Son of Mine" - Genesis and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" - Daft Punk)

Disclaimer: The story you're about to read is real, the names are not changed to protect anyone innocent, or those are still guilty as charged...

Hello,

Going into church on Sunday, I was looking forward to another service at St. Paul since I decided to go back for a little bit to test the waters myself to see how things were going. Well I'm happy to say that having my best friend Christina there and my old pre-school/pre-kindergarten teacher there, makes it all the more better.

It was time to get my Pre-S/Pre-K caught up on all the latest happenings with me. Christina sadly wasn't going to be there because her husband was working and child was sick. That was ok, I still had a chance to talk with members and just kind of take it easy.

One didn't even recognize me until after the service was over with until I explained who I was and that's when he picked it up.

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Sitting there just talking with my Pre-S/Pre-K teacher, when I mentioned one person was on her fourth marriage, someone turned around and said: "I couldn't help but listening to your conversation."

Yeah... Daft Punk's beginning of the brazen bells started, the place went dark, and the whole place went silent. Ok, so, it was none other than my fourth grade teacher who I still haven't forgiven for travesties of the past like throwing out my math test, not understanding what autism was, and what her problem was with me. Yeah, I get the past is the past, but the throwing out of my math test? I know how to do maths. Yeah, still sticks to this day.

I said Hello, remember me?

She started to guess... Well, she guess my dad's name... but... she still wasn't catching on... I didn't even recognize her without her glasses, but it was the hat driving me nuts to look at... This isn't Russia, lady! 1996-1997 was the worst year of my damn life.

I finally told her... and she said: What are you doing here?

I said: Decided to take in a service with my best friend's mother.

Well, she decided to jump into a conversation... REALLY!? Come on...

I decided to be friendly, talk, take in the service, and just mind my own business... but that said: Joshua, after the service, you better just run because you know damn well she's going to want to talk. JUST RUN. Instead she brings up an embarrassing story about me... I'm like: Yeah... I loved to read!

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So, the service was over, I grabbed my Capitals hoodie and floored it out, shook the Pastor's hand... and then waited until I saw my 3rd grade teacher because I did want to tell her about going to see Mrs. Robinson. I made it out and I saw her and said: Boy have I got something to show you! Guess who I got to go visit!

She said: Who and how!?

I said: There she is.

She couldn't believe it! Yep! How she wondered...

I explained everything from the 6:00pm to 3:30am ride to Indianapolis that got me so hyped and excited to taking my wife's family to the Taylor Swift concert. She could not believe her ears. Then came meeting the new principal because... hey, it's a new principal. We struck up a nice conversation and then she said: "We'd love for former students to come and chat with our current students!"

I said: Well, I'll put on a chicken.

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Notwithstanding the obvious, yes, I don't have a lot of forgiveness for people who slighted me EVEN in the slightest. Could I bring myself to forgive? I don't think so. Closing in on the end of Advent, I am still not even the slightest or remotely encouraged to forgive and forget. 26 years later? You still haven't learned.