The strangest memory came to me as I was taking my shower. It is a funny yet exhilerating memory, and I started to laugh in the middle of my shower.
The summer of my freshman year I was asked to help a football player up his grades in math. His name is Shawn Linder, and he is a big, tall, black defense player in our school team. He was failing math, and if he didnt pass math by the end of summer, he would not be able to play football the coming season. Because I got good grades in my math, my teacher gave my name to the football coach at that time, and I was called and asked to help him. So I spent 1 1/2 hours twice a week with him, helping him understand math, making him do homework and stuff like that. And then he had to take his first test. I was nervous for him because it reflected on me as well. And I prayed very hard for him. I prepared him as much as I could and then he went to take his test. The results only came back a week later I think. But we plodded on in the meantime.
Then one day as I walked into the football office, the secretary at that time, Tammy, said, really seriously and quietly, Coach wants to see you. Now, the head coach at that time (I forgot his name) was someone to be feared. I mean, he is a nice guy, and he was always nice to me, and appreciative of my helping Shawn. But he's got a face that scares people who dont know him, and I know he has a temper that noone wants to provoke. Then there was another coach. His name is Matt, and he was the defense coach I think. He was the one I give reports to. He is a younger guy and he is more friendly and approachable. Anyway, as soon as I heard that the head coach wanted to see me, I got worried. I knew it had something to do with Shawn's grades.
I walked into his office, feeling more worried with each step, like I'm facing my doom. And true enough, Coach was waiting for me. The first thing he said to me was, (almost yelling), WHAT AM I PAYING YOU FOR??? ARE YOU GUYS DOING ANY WORK AT ALL??? And I managed to stammer out, Yes we are! He is doing his work! Then coach goes, LOOK AT THIS, JUST LOOK AT THIS GRADE!!!!! And he hands me Shawn's test. I almost didnt want to look at it, but I did, and what I saw was an 86! At first I didnt understand, because of all the trauma I had to go through earlier, but then it hit me that it wasnt a failing grade, it was a B! I started to laugh and jump up and down and yelling, IT'S AN 86!!! IT'S A B!!!! HE GOT A B!! And Coach started to smile, then he started to laugh because of my reaction. There was another football player in the office at that time, and he had to smile too. Then Coach congratulated me and told me to keep up the good work. I ran outside and I hear Tammy laughing. I was like, Did you know about this??? And she goes, Yes! I did! Then I went into Matt's office and asked him, Did YOU know about this? And he started to smile and said, Yeah I did. Everyone was in on this joke and apparently they couldnt wait for me to get into the office that day to give me one hell of a scare.
It was a great great day. I was so proud of Shawn. In the end, he got himself a C for an overall grade, and though I thought he could have made a B, I was still very glad he passed Math and is able to play football. He graduated at the same time as I did, and he caught me as I was walking into the music building after graduation and he said, I have to take a picture with you, you are my math tutor! I wish I got a copy of the picture! But anyway, I hope he is doing well, wherever he is.
Anyway, to totally change the subject, there is SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINTOPS! I was driving to work today, and I drove through some hilly areas. As I was going down hill, I looked around me and I thought to myself, How pretty! The rain has made all the grass green, something I've not seen in months and months. Then I turn the corner and in front of me were the mountains and there was snow at the peaks, and I couldnt help but smile and say out loud, OH MY GOSH!!! It is so so so pretty!!! Totally made my day. And for the rest of the day, wherever I drove, if I saw mountains, I would look longer at them because I love snow, and I especially love looking at snow on the mountains. Wish the snow would fall down here in the valleys though. It would be SO COOL.