why do they call it Black Friday? because the stores will go from being in the red to being in the black? the PR departments have done well to advertise this. several clients have mentioned their children begging, pleading, and playing "let's make a deal" to get money to spend on Black Friday.
i did not go shopping. i don't shop. i hate department stores and i only shop when i have to. once out shopping i return as quickly as is humanly possible.
i spend today visiting the campus of San Francisco State University where I met with Senem Ozer, the terrific young relations officer who is working with me on Kyle's scholarship. i also got to meet Joel Kassiola, Dean of College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, who dropped by his office to pick up 1500 letters to sign this weekend for students on the Dean's List. he said that Kyle was only the second student to be awarded a diploma posthumously. and Senem said that Kyle's Scholarship was the first to be offered at SFSU in History/Latin America.
we met at the Malcolm X Plaza and climbed the outside stairs to the top of the Cesar Chavez Student Center, where there is a 360 degree view. the weather was spectacular for San Francisco (i always seem to get great weather when i am here), with a bright clear sky, comfortably cool temperature, and no wind. the campus looked beautiful, and i pictured ky up on top of the Student Center joining his buds for a smoke possibly. i wish i'd spent more time with him on campus.
dear friend (as well as former social work intern and colleague) Lisa D. met Della and me at the campus. she brought a picture of Kyle and Miranda and me standing with her at her wedding in 1996. Ky and Miranda were 11 and 15 at the time. she and Chris have 3 young children now; she shared adorable pictures of them (even Lisa and Chris look adorable). we later went to lunch (at a shopping mall) and caught up on the last 6 years. it's a shame not to stay more in contact with the wonderful people whom we meet in our lives.
and though i shed a few tears, all in all it was a day of peace. i more than survived the return to the city and the university where kyle spent his last 4 years.
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2 comments:
...it was great to hear your voice on thursday...you sounded like you were thoroughly engrossed in the preparations...which was nice...
...and so, so glad that some light shone in on "black friday" for you...what an experience....what a gift...you can forever be a proud mama...the boy was a miracle... : )
I am glad your visit to SF State turned out well...I wanted to join you but i couldn't make it to the city in time. I wanted to take you to the top of the Cezar chavez student center, because that was our "crews" meeting place. That is were i met kyle smoking joints and blunts in between class. That is where we became good friends, eventually hanging out off campus. It was actually a really funny sight. You would see all of these people on the stairs studying, eating lunch, etc. Then you would look up to the top half (we always went to the top, maybe the exercise was justification for smoking so much) and you would see this rag tag group of students: tall, short, black, white, mexican, graff writers, musicians, hippies, business majors, etc. passing bowls and relaxing. I would give anything for another chavez session with kyle!! And one last thing, i spent that weekend in the city, me and phil went and hung out at the spots we all used to go paint. i will post the pictures of the dfeat pieces when i get them developed...(on kyles 12 oz thread)
peace and love
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