Writings, Wanderings

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. When the virus first appeared on the West Coast, the cases seemed far away. Northeast Ohio was insulated, safe from any major problems. Even the first patients diagnosed in the state didn’t raise huge alarm. Then like dominoes everything fell. In less than a week schools went from normal functioning to shut down, access shut off not just to the buildings but also all activities.                 My heart aches for all the students who are losing a season no matter the sport. My senior year I watched the first two track meets from the sidelines after injuring myself at the first practice—completely self-inflicted from pushing far too hard after a winter of inactivity. I worked hard that spring to rebuild and get back to where I had been at the end of my junior year. The week of districts I was on track to finish my season with my best time ever. Tuesday night prelims ended up...

As the year draws a close ("Auld Lang Syne" is playing on my TV as I write this), I find myself reflecting on the big moments. Three stand out to me, not just because they were big but because they also forced me to face my fears. 1. Cuba.     I spent two weeks in Cuba as part of a summer program for teachers through the Stone Institute at Tulane University. The travel wasn't the scary part--it was being with a group of people I had never met. However, I was blessed with a roommate that got me and developed other friendships. By not letting my nervousness about meeting lots of new people get in my way, I got to experience Cuban culture from a different perspective than most tourists. I listened to lectures from a former diplomat, current teachers, women involved in the literacy program from the beginning of the Revolution, and a rap duo. I toured old Havana, a top art museum, a farm run by Hershey's company, Che's burial site, and the UNESCO city of...