I realize much of this blog has recently been devoted to how much I detest living in Finneytown. Yesterday was the exception. Went to Nathanael's induction into the honor society- the kids that get inducted into that- wow, they certainly make it much more bearable- great, well-rounded kids. Typical kid plays soccer, violin, in Key Club, in the last play, and their youth group went on a mission trip in or out of the US. I wish Nathanael were more involved in some of these things- he just isn't taking a lot of initiative with youth-y things like Young Life, or Kiwanis, or other great organizations. But I can't complain- he's active in band, and his description was quite unique- placed high in national spelling bee, writes for the school newspaper and magazine (has gone head to head with the principal for what is "acceptable" free speech- namely, he was trying to save Warder Park from being developed into an actual "park" rather than a nice copse with a trail, and they wouldn't let him put his promotional signs asking for signatures in the school- principal said it was too "political" in nature, but then Nathanael - successfully, to some extent- argued that it was also "political" to tack up those annoying pink GLBT signs on every available surface in the school...and if some people could do it, why not others...)....OK, I digressed. Anyway, his hobby is designing fonts- and so often his happy face and his sad face and his interested face and his bored face are all the same face- and I want him to develop more socially- and most of all, spiritually- he seems too, well, content....c'mon! Well anyway...I know my son...but there's so much I want FOR him, too.
He was the first to accept the award, being the first name on the list. The school is a small school. Only about 120 in the graduating class. His class is a wonderful group of kids. Well, I think so. Now of course I'm an adult goin awwww...but certainly that's just an image- they all have their problems and issues and so and so really hates so and so. It hasn't been that long since I was in high school rolling my eyes at adults.

Anyway, what a great school (even if the school itself is NOT great, and at the middle school level it has fallen apart) and place he's grown up in. Good kids, all unique individuals, it certainly didn't look like a gang haven!

Last night, of course, NOT in Finneytown, but IN Cincinnati, the most popular rapper (#1 on the urban charts in the US- is from Atlanta and was doing a show at some club) -well HIS posse got into a fight with another posse all along I-75...gunfight ensued...end result was at least one of them dead- sigh- gangsta rap...sick of it!!!!! I don't even remember his name...TI or IT or something. Google it...anyway it's just the same old boring murders around here. Cincy's had the worst crime year ever so far. Ever day someone gets shot. Typical US urban crap. It won't end until the world does.