tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post113253544737503171..comments2023-10-10T10:09:48.794-05:00Comments on Letting me be . . . random wondering and philosophy: High School and the Ugly Duckling"ME" Liz Strausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132790806149809392005-11-23T18:06:00.000-06:002005-11-23T18:06:00.000-06:00Scot,It's always so nice when you stop by to tell ...Scot,<BR/>It's always so nice when you stop by to tell me what it is that I'm doing. I so appreciate your insight and "out-sight" of what is in what I write. You are my colleague and my friend.<BR/>Liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132790566811394652005-11-23T18:02:00.000-06:002005-11-23T18:02:00.000-06:00Liz,Talk about a statement of profundity: "High sc...Liz,<BR/>Talk about a statement of profundity: "High school is the archipelago of humanity."<BR/><BR/>I only went to high school for a half a year, and so I only got a taste of the different cliques that existed: the jocks, the preppies, the losers, etc. It was probably good that my time in high school was short, because I didn't fit in any established group. I was the weirdo, an outcast, which probably was a group onto itself. Later, when I became a teacher at a private high school, I was amazed by how many different groups kids fell into, and found myself wondering about that. It just didn't seem natural, and I think it had a lot to do with the school environment. <BR/>I really like what you're doing with your recent writings, how you focus on that one idea, the emotions associated with it, the images that present it, and then how you put <BR/>your finger on what the essense of that is by relating what it means to you, and in doing so, letting the reader experience it in the same way. <BR/>ScotAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132726250792153512005-11-23T00:10:00.000-06:002005-11-23T00:10:00.000-06:00What a great statement, David,I want my last breat...What a great statement, David,<BR/><BR/><I>I want my last breath to be the question my whole life naswered! </I><BR/><BR/>I wish that for you.<BR/><BR/>smiles,<BR/>Liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132726076326636132005-11-23T00:07:00.000-06:002005-11-23T00:07:00.000-06:00Very thoughtful and thought provoking post. Percep...Very thoughtful and thought provoking post. Perceptive and well said.<BR/><BR/>I was lucky in Highschool. Though I was nerdy and gay, I was a star talent, and I knew what my career would be.<BR/><BR/>Regarding this post- I love when the last sentence is the question the whole post answers. <BR/><BR/>Isn't that how life should be? <BR/><BR/>I want my last breath to be the question my whole life naswered!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132709372476337352005-11-22T19:29:00.000-06:002005-11-22T19:29:00.000-06:00Hi cibbuano,You think so. I think the older I get,...Hi cibbuano,<BR/>You think so. I think the older I get, the softer I become--like an old pair of shoes. I wanted to fit in once, but always knew I wouldn't, couldn't. Now it's easy to just relax and let people have their way most of the time, because most things aren't so important.<BR/><BR/>smiles,<BR/>Liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132709161443112372005-11-22T19:26:00.000-06:002005-11-22T19:26:00.000-06:00I think that, the older you get, the more arrogant...I think that, the older you get, the more arrogant you'll become. At least, most people seem to have an arrogance of opinion or knowledge as they age.<BR/><BR/>When you're in middle school and high school, you just want to fit in, so you'll accept anything if it's popular...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132705429868745532005-11-22T18:23:00.000-06:002005-11-22T18:23:00.000-06:00Hello zandperl,I applaud you finding a way to find...Hello zandperl,<BR/>I applaud you finding a way to find yourself. It's hard enough to do under any circumstances and so many of us don't.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for coming and for your insight.<BR/>Liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132705288445056912005-11-22T18:21:00.000-06:002005-11-22T18:21:00.000-06:00I think one good thing is that we're not stuck in ...<I>I think one good thing is that we're not stuck in a single pond or with a single kind of duck.</I><BR/><BR/>Many people are unfortunately. I've had the good fortune to decide I didn't want to stay in the same place until I'd been to many, and I lived in a different place for 7 of the last 10 summers. Meeting new people and seeing new ways of doing things really allows you to see that you're not an ugly ducking after all.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132704314757475002005-11-22T18:05:00.000-06:002005-11-22T18:05:00.000-06:00Hi Mark,I haven't been to a reunion in a very long...Hi Mark,<BR/>I haven't been to a reunion in a very long time. I bet mine would probably be the same. The coversation I had and another just got me thinking in this direction.<BR/>smiles,<BR/>liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132703978117817072005-11-22T17:59:00.000-06:002005-11-22T17:59:00.000-06:00Interesting post, Liz. One of the things I like ab...Interesting post, Liz. One of the things I like about high school reunions is that a lot of that old junk evaporates and people can relate to each other on more of a real level.<BR/><BR/>Mark DanielsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132698158376315692005-11-22T16:22:00.000-06:002005-11-22T16:22:00.000-06:00Thanks Hungry,That was my favorite line too.smiles...Thanks Hungry,<BR/>That was my favorite line too.<BR/>smiles,<BR/>liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132698059579212862005-11-22T16:20:00.000-06:002005-11-22T16:20:00.000-06:00I believe the ugly duckling finally looked into th...I believe the ugly duckling finally looked into the glassy water and realized that she was indeed beautiful. I like how you say they ruled the universe and then their universe ran out. Awesome!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132696706786346692005-11-22T15:58:00.000-06:002005-11-22T15:58:00.000-06:00Hi T-master,How lovely the way that you can let go...Hi T-master,<BR/>How lovely the way that you can let go and let them off the hook. I hope they got passed what made them that way the same way we did too.<BR/><BR/>One of the best things about high school is that it's over. :)<BR/>smiles,<BR/>liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132696523851083412005-11-22T15:55:00.000-06:002005-11-22T15:55:00.000-06:00I hated high school. I was frightened of inadequa...I hated high school. I was frightened of inadequacy, and feared ridicule. I was quiet, and tried my best to fit in with everyone, to no avail.<BR/><BR/>I had friends, my little group of cronies. We were on the outside, we were different. We were very alone in rural Texas with our strangely cut hair and weird clothing of the mid-1980s. We were band fags. We were drama queers. We never did things that were thought of as great, like the football players did.<BR/><BR/>It's all over now though. The simple angst of high school. We weird ones, at least most of us, have passed on to other things, bigger things. Things that matter more than the prom, or popularity. We've passed into adulthood and left our animosity behind.<BR/><BR/>I hope the popular people did too...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132683808565231342005-11-22T12:23:00.000-06:002005-11-22T12:23:00.000-06:00Hi Jennifer,How lucky you were to have that experi...Hi Jennifer,<BR/>How lucky you were to have that experience and how mature to have taken so much good from it. No wonder you've become such a unique and special woman.<BR/><BR/>I for one am glad that you didn't spend four years trying to change your feathers. :P<BR/><BR/>smiles,<BR/>liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132683583343532912005-11-22T12:19:00.000-06:002005-11-22T12:19:00.000-06:00I think I'm blessed when it comes to HS and memori...I think I'm blessed when it comes to HS and memories.<BR/><BR/>I remember all right, but I remember three years of school totally unlike anything the typical HS kid experiences because I wasn't in HS I was at lycee (French HS) And life was blessedly different for me. It was like dropping and orange into a bunch of apples--this unstoppable curiousity on both sides that made HS wonderful.<BR/><BR/>Then there was the senior year...and your memories brought back many of mine (many which I'd managed to forget)... I tried so hard to change the colors of my feathers before I realized even if I managed to change 'my appearance' that wouldn't really change me.<BR/><BR/>I avoided HS and it's experiences for the most part and I look back every day and thank my luck stars...but on occasion I get this thought...what would it have been like--4 years at one HS?<BR/><BR/>This <I>ugly duckling</I> realized there was more out there long before most...it just took her a while to build up the courage to realize she could go explore alone :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132680995261960382005-11-22T11:36:00.000-06:002005-11-22T11:36:00.000-06:00Hi Betty,It's hard not to feel threaten. It's also...Hi Betty,<BR/>It's hard not to feel threaten. It's also hard not to notice when someone feels threatened when they walk by us either.<BR/><BR/>Why should we still scare one another?<BR/><BR/>smiles,<BR/>Liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132680132855110752005-11-22T11:22:00.000-06:002005-11-22T11:22:00.000-06:00I have often wished that I could see how my school...I have often wished that I could see how my schoolmates turned out, but I moved away and have never been to a reunion. You reminded me, though, of something I used to do in high school. I was not cool or popular, for sure, but thank heavens I wasn't scorned the way some of the shy kids were. That's because I used to consciously emit vibes of good will to ward off the ridicule of the popular people. I swear, it seemed to work. My best friend was made fun of; I was left alone. I use that technique to this day when I feel threatened; maybe I should just keep swimming to a place where I won't need it anymore.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132676148428905852005-11-22T10:15:00.000-06:002005-11-22T10:15:00.000-06:00Oh Easy,How wonderfully compassionate you are. Tha...Oh Easy,<BR/>How wonderfully compassionate you are. Thank you for coming by to make the ugly duckling know how beautiful he is.<BR/>smiles,<BR/>liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132675946607406562005-11-22T10:12:00.000-06:002005-11-22T10:12:00.000-06:00Poor ugly duckling, still worrying over the percep...Poor ugly duckling, still worrying over the perceptions of others. Look in the water little swan the truth is there.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132673221235185192005-11-22T09:27:00.000-06:002005-11-22T09:27:00.000-06:00Hi Indie,Thanks for coming to see us.Yeah, I know ...Hi Indie,<BR/>Thanks for coming to see us.<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I know after a while we either get to be human beings or we need to see a shrink. Good point.<BR/>Liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132673079698017162005-11-22T09:24:00.000-06:002005-11-22T09:24:00.000-06:00I was one of the (class of '80) geeks who hung out...I was one of the (class of '80) geeks who hung out in the high school computer room. Wasn't very popular, but no one called me arrogant. <BR/><BR/>I think by now everyone I went to high school with has gotten over their life ending after graduation. Or else they're in dire need of therapy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132671410852852152005-11-22T08:56:00.000-06:002005-11-22T08:56:00.000-06:00Hi mergrl,I'm delighted that you found your own un...Hi mergrl,<BR/>I'm delighted that you found your own unique self, because I think she's one smart, lovely person who I like being with.<BR/><BR/>smiles,<BR/>liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132671200127392862005-11-22T08:53:00.000-06:002005-11-22T08:53:00.000-06:00Do you suppose the ugly duckling ever swam far eno...<I>Do you suppose the ugly duckling ever swam far enough to believe that he was beautiful?<BR/></I><BR/><BR/>great post Liz, as somebody who was routinely called stuck up in high school because I was shy and different, it really hit home.<BR/><BR/>I like to think that my ugly ducking finally realized that she wasn't ugly at all, just her own unique self.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1132669572588125892005-11-22T08:26:00.000-06:002005-11-22T08:26:00.000-06:00Hi dear Kelley,I've had that experience going home...Hi dear Kelley,<BR/>I've had that experience going home. It's dishearenting at best. I'm sure it's a big part of this piece I wrote to see who some people became.<BR/>smiles,<BR/>Liz"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.com