Just a stargazer

Thank You–
A short essay about really great things

I have known disappointment, jealousy, sadness, lonliness… I’m sure I could go on and on with sad stories. But with time, it doesn’t seem so bad. There has been a lot of good too.

I tried to think of times when I felt really special, when I got to do something really unique, or when someone went way out of their way to do something nice for me. I’m sure there have been a lot of small things, but two things stand out the most.

The first thing that really stands out is the fact that I recorded a CD back in 2001 for fun with my extremely musically talented friend Joe. Oddly enough, the CD is entitled “Just a Stargazer.” I think that was a really, really awesome thing for Joe to do for me. I just think it is so way cool. I would be jealous of other people who had the same opportunity. Recently, I recorded another song I wrote, “Lost,” with my friend Matthew. It is also way cool for him to help me do that. Thank you so much Joe!

The other thing that stands out for me is the way I was asked to my senior prom. My junior year, I was just sure that this one guy was going to ask me to go with him. I really wanted to go to the prom more than anything! I had never been to a school dance before because no one would ask me. I did ask someone once, but he already had a date by that time. Every day, I would just let my mind wander with hope that he would ask me. I would watch as my teammates and classmates got asked in special ways, and keep thinking that my day would come tomorrow. It never came, and I was heartbroken.

Senior year came around. Life was much improved. When it came time for prom I felt a lot of ties toward my school, toward that last year. It was the happiest I’d felt in school ever (at least since kindergarten). I was hoping my guy friend at school would ask me to go to the prom with him. Mike and I had a couple of classes together, including first hour, and I always had a great time talking with him during down time in class. One morning, he walked into first hour a few minutes late. He burst into the room with a red rose in his mouth. He flung his jacket and bookbag to the floor and tore the rose from his lips. He said… “Lisa–” Then he started to recite Hamlet:
“Doubt thou the stars are fire
Doubt that the sun doth move
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt I love…”
He got down on one knee and went on with a couple of made up lines that rhymed with “…will you go to prom with me?”

Mike and I had a great time at prom. A few years ago, he got married to the woman of his dreams. Mike, thank you for making me the most treasured student at West that day.

Lots of people have done nice things for me over the years. These two things are probably my favorites. They almost make up for things like making my own birthday cake, not getting cast in the school play, and not having friends (though these days I have great friends).