More Than Kids

Back When I Knew It All

Today is the 27 year anniversary of my first seizure. I wrote a much longer post today at the Epilepsy Foundation website, where I am a "Featured Blogger." This past weekend, I traveled to my old home town to see my former classmates for a high school reunion. Even though some of these people have known me for more than thirty five years, the reunion was the first time I had talked with some of them about having epilepsy.

Epilepsy was only a small part of the conversation, except when it was important. To my classmates credit, they are supportive and understanding. I had thought that I needed to hide epilepsy so that I could be part of the community. Instead, I can be a larger part of my community, because I acknowledge who I am.

I did not always feel that I could be honest, but two years ago I realized how the day had changed.  Maybe we have all changed, often for the better.

Back To Novato Blvd

Earlier this month I visited San Marin High School to say hello to "old friends." I will always have great memories of the students, staff and community.

I will also remember a student I never met. A couple weeks after I started teaching last year, a student from the cross town high school died in a car accident. The student had been a pasenger and died at the scene. His friends and/or family built a roadside memorial, and maintained it throughout the year. Because of my work with Mothers of Angels, I felt compelled to visit the site often and pray for the family.

When I returned to San Marin this month, I drove down the county road again and visited.

 

Isaac Brott Roadside Memorial - One Year Later - Images by bryan farley

Last month, I visited Fresno County for my annual shoot with the Mothers of Angels. I saw a another roadside memorial that has been maintained by the landowners years after another teen age boy died in a car accident. These road signs help heal the unimaginable.

Back To School Night

Last night was "Noche de regreso a la escuela" at Melrose Leadership Academy. Our two children both attend the Spanish Immersion portion of MLA. Last night was our son's first Back to School Night. It was our daughter's third.

MLA - Back To School Night - Images by bryan farley

Last year, when I taught at a public high school in a different county, we held our Back to School Night on September 16, 2010. Later, our staff held staff development meetings wondering how we could improve the language scores of our second language learners without noticing the irony that we held our back-to-school-chili-cook-off on an important Mexican holiday. 

At MLA, the food brings us together.