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Write, share, and give on this last Tuesday of August.

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This is what I felt about the beginning of my journey. with the slice of life project.

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I went to high school. And I never left.

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I went to high school. And I never left.

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Today we had a hamburger eating contest at lunch. I didn't attend. The student club that I sponsor was meeting in my room at the same time, though even without a schedule conflict, I wouldn't be caught dead there. When I saw the poster advertising the event, I thought, "Has no one seen Stand By Me?" I'll spare you the details, but there's a pie-eating contest that ends in a river of upchuck. (Sorry- I didn't spare you ALL the details). There's also some good old-fashioned fat-phobic bullying. The film, based on the novella The Body by Stephen King, is from the '80s and set in the late '50s. But here we stand, in 2024, having learned nothing, apparently. The report I received later was that both teachers and students competed and it went swimmingly, without incident. However, my source is perhaps unreliable (the principal). Students won. Custodians emerged unscathed. I guess I am a killjoy.

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This past May, I found myself surrounded by the majestic Sequoias in the North Grove of Calaveras Big Trees State Park, their towering forms a testament to resilience and time. As I wandered beneath the lush canopy, I was reminded of a particular Chimney Tree, its charred heartwood standing tall despite the storms it had weathered. Sitting on a moss-covered log, I closed my eyes and listened to the gentle rustle of leaves and distant bird calls, feeling profoundly connected to the trees' ancient secrets. Their extensive roots intertwining beneath my feet mirrored the importance of relationships in our lives, emphasizing how we support one another through challenges. Departing from the grove, I was filled with a renewed sense of purpose, eager to share the wisdom I’d gained about endurance and community. With each step back to my car, I realized that the true journey had been a call to action—to advocate for nature and nurture the bonds that connect us all.