"When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. When you die, you rejoice, and the world cries"

At 1:10am this morning, Joan Pearl Bell, my grandmother, passed away. Me, my mother, step-mother, aunt, and three cousins were present to witness her last breath. My grandma left this world without feeling any pain. To many, she will be deeply missed. Her absence from our lives will never be completely filled.

Now, I must do the first mature thing since becoming an adult. Over the next few days, I will take an active role in the planning of the burial of my grandmother, write a eulogy for her procession, and serve as a paul-bearer and carry her to her final resting place right next to my grandfather, Raymond Bell. Together they will rest, both in this world and the afterlife.

This is part of growing up: when you bury the loved ones you know, and take up their roles in their absence. You display what you have learned from them; the apprenctice becomes the master, and begins educating those who will come after.

See you all when this is over. I cannot thank everyone enough for helping me through this rough point in life. I love you all...

I found this in a profile, and I thought It was hilarious!

A white man yells to a black man. "Hey colored boy! You're blockin my view."
The black man turned around and stood up. He then said:
"When I was born I was black,"
"When I grew up I was black,"
"When I'm sick I'm black,"
"When I go in the sun I'm black,"
"When I'm cold I'm black,"
"When I die I'll be black"
"But you sir..."
"When you're born you're pink,"
"When you grow up you're white,"
"When you're sick, you're green,"
"When you go in the sun you turn red,"
"When you're cold you turn blue,"
"And when you die you turn purple."
"And you have the nerve to call me colored?"
The black man then sat back down and the white man walked away...

"There is a good reason they call these ceremonies "commencement exercises." Graduation is not the end; it's the beginning" -e.e.cummings

Two Hours To Go...

I layed awake in my bed all night, thinking of today. Four years of Groves, countless homework assignments, hundreds of friends created, some friends lost to time and pointless fights, and the activities I did there. So many experiences, so little ways to convey them.

Within four hours, I am no longer a Senior. I will be an Alumni, the true god of an establishment. With it comes the recognition of success and completion. Honor takes on a new meaning. So many emotions, so little time to express them all...

This is the song that has been playing in my mind for the last 24 hours, as i have thought of all the teachers ive met, tests ive taken, assignments ive completed, organizations ive joined, friends i have made and lost; all the experiences I have had and those still coming...


BLACKTHORN - "The Parting Glass"

“Of all the money that e'er I had, I spent it in good company,
And all the harm that e'er I've done, alas it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit to memory now I can't recall,
So fill to me the parting glass. Good night and joy be with you all.

Fill to me the parting glass, and drink a health whate're befalls
Gently rise and softly call, Goodnight and joy be to you all.

Of all the friends that e'er I had, they're sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had, they'd bid me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot, that I should rise and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call, Goodnight and joy be to you all.

Fill to me the parting glass, and drink a health whate're befalls
Gently rise and softly call, Goodnight and joy be to you all."


Life is suspended right now...when where, how, and with whom it picks up is still shrouded by a veil of uncertainty. Thank you all for bringing me to where I am today.