I am amazed at the imagery of your writing. I felt every feeling, saw every place reading this essay. Please consider writing more, professionally. (Also, as an old fart, appreciate your good grammar-lol). You are so talented, Orlando. Looking forward to the next installment!
Orlando, I just finished reading "The Road to My High School..." . I have followed you on Instagram for a very long time but didn't feel I had the time to commit to another subscription until I read this. The poignancy with which you write is beautiful, transporting and a gift to read. I look forward to what's next. Wishing you the very best.
That was a time. It seems very unusual to me now that I’m away from it but we lived with the constant threat and reality of natural disasters in many forms: rock slides/falls, floods, trees falling, snow storms and fires in a beautiful place.
I had to break out the yearbook to see who this snaggletooth bully was! The vitriol that flowed from some of the kids still blows my mind. Truly like being in the dark ages as far as human decency is concerned.
Honestly, looking back on it I think there must have been a lot of darkness in her personal life for her to act like that. I hope she came out of it all okay.
Yikes. Relocating the students like that is making me think of the evacuated British children in WWII. It sounds awful to be displaced away from your family, even it wasn't all of the time.
Ugh, Snaggle Tooth Sarah. I had a Snaggle Tooth Scott in high school. I remember one day sitting in class, minding my own business, reading a Sassy magazine. I just so happened to have it open to a cosmetic ad and Scott walks by and casually says "Make-up won't help." I'm over the fact that he was mean. Like you say, it says more about the pain and anger they were dealing with more than it's actually about us, but I hate that I have space in my brain for this memory. He certainly hasn't thought about me since that incident, but here I am thinking about his mean words thirty years later.
Also, this event is so so fascinating!! Thanks for the visuals!
Orlando, you brought back so many memories! We were staying at the Fountaingrove Inn at that time as volunteers for a Celebrity golf tournament. A very scary experience that still bothers me to this day!
Please, please write a memoir.
I am amazed at the imagery of your writing. I felt every feeling, saw every place reading this essay. Please consider writing more, professionally. (Also, as an old fart, appreciate your good grammar-lol). You are so talented, Orlando. Looking forward to the next installment!
Orlando, I just finished reading "The Road to My High School..." . I have followed you on Instagram for a very long time but didn't feel I had the time to commit to another subscription until I read this. The poignancy with which you write is beautiful, transporting and a gift to read. I look forward to what's next. Wishing you the very best.
That was a time. It seems very unusual to me now that I’m away from it but we lived with the constant threat and reality of natural disasters in many forms: rock slides/falls, floods, trees falling, snow storms and fires in a beautiful place.
Also, somehow I had no idea you guys were put into a natural disaster halfway house. How traumatizing!!
Whoa. Just whoa🤯
I second Marguerite!
I have always enjoyed your story posts but, this one really got me.
Nothing is “stable” living in Yosemite.
I always felt there should be a high school in Yosemite.
My best to you O!
(My charming neighbor 4 doors down….in the same Sears Kit Cottage plan.)
I had to break out the yearbook to see who this snaggletooth bully was! The vitriol that flowed from some of the kids still blows my mind. Truly like being in the dark ages as far as human decency is concerned.
Honestly, looking back on it I think there must have been a lot of darkness in her personal life for her to act like that. I hope she came out of it all okay.
Yikes. Relocating the students like that is making me think of the evacuated British children in WWII. It sounds awful to be displaced away from your family, even it wasn't all of the time.
Good God…you are a wonderful writer! Really great. More please!
Ugh, Snaggle Tooth Sarah. I had a Snaggle Tooth Scott in high school. I remember one day sitting in class, minding my own business, reading a Sassy magazine. I just so happened to have it open to a cosmetic ad and Scott walks by and casually says "Make-up won't help." I'm over the fact that he was mean. Like you say, it says more about the pain and anger they were dealing with more than it's actually about us, but I hate that I have space in my brain for this memory. He certainly hasn't thought about me since that incident, but here I am thinking about his mean words thirty years later.
Also, this event is so so fascinating!! Thanks for the visuals!
Orlando, you brought back so many memories! We were staying at the Fountaingrove Inn at that time as volunteers for a Celebrity golf tournament. A very scary experience that still bothers me to this day!