Clarity is Found Only When the Sun Goes Down

I always resented living on the outskirts of this small, college town. It wouldn’t matter except that roads are always under construction, the posted speed limit is rarely over 35 mph, and the town is a cluster f_ck of four way stop signs and lights. Making it across town is always an ordeal.

When you live on the outskirts of a town, the night sky is always wholesome. When I can’t sleep and it’s unusually warm, I’ll take my dog for a walk and appreciate not living closer to the mall, bars, gym, and University.

I was cleaning my classroom the day before school started and found my pile of random holiday cards given by random people. I never understood the allure of holiday cards. Doesn’t everyone have e-mail now? Tossing one after the other into the trash can, two caught my attention.

Dear Flores,
Thanks for being the only teacher who doesn’t think I’m a
stoner. Merry X-mas!

I didn’t “think” this particular student was a stoner; some things you just know.

The second card had an overly muscular caricature of me. A dialogue box accompanied it saying:

"I swear it’s all natural! I don’t take any steroids and never have
time to work out!”

It was flattering.

...

Sometimes it’s a card or sincere note that makes you say, “Wow, to hell with everything else”.