Dear self,

1. Why did you have a dream with Voldemort in it?
2. No, seriously, answer the question.
3. Voldemort would never kidnap you and take your baby for some reason.
4. He wouldn't force you to swallow special pills to make you obedient to him and no longer loathe him. He has magic for that, stupid.
5. You fail, dude. Just plain fail.

No love,
Self

A Beloved Teacher, Who Will Not Be Forgotten

Two days ago, as my mother and I were driving to Brookfield to get a haircut, I received a call on my cell phone. The caller id read “Sensei.” When I opened my phone to answer the call, possible hope and likely despair crowded my heart and mind.

Four months ago, my tutoring with my sensei, Karen Touton, was put on hold. She told me and Amanda, my classmate, that she wasn’t doing too well and that we would temporarily have to cease the Japanese classes. Amanda and I stated that our summers were pretty busy anyways, so it seemed it would be better for all of us, students and teacher, to start classes again in the fall.

A couple of weeks after that, my family received a call from one of Karen’s sisters. She called to inform us that Karen had serious brain cancer, and that it would be likely that Karen could never be my teacher again. She encouraged me to call Karen and talk to her, and then talk to her mother so her mother could remain Karen of the phone call. Either that or write a letter to Karen, as a sort of thanks and saying good-bye without saying good-bye, as her family didn’t want Karen to know how serious the cancer was.

I did neither, being too afraid and too in denial about saying farewell to a teacher I loved so much and respected so highly.

As I put my cell phone to my ear to hear the voice of the caller, my feelings of likely despair were realized.

“Hello? This is Karen Touton’s sister, were you one of her students?” she asked me. I answered that I was. “I’m sorry to tell you, but my sister passed away on Tuesday.”

She then proceeded to tell me of information having to do with the funeral. My mind was a blur with all the information I was trying to process, to comprehend. Eventually the call ended, and I broke down in tears.

Yesterday was the funeral, which I attended with my classmate, Amanda.

When I arrived at the Church with Amanda, we were greeted by one of Karen’s childhood friends, and Karen’s family. From the things I heard from Karen’s family, apparently Karen thought very highly of Amanda and me. The family was thrilled that we attended.

The thing I remember most vividly about yesterday was seeing Karen’s body; frozen in time, completely still, never to move or teach again. Some part of me hoped that, as I looked at her, she would just open her eyes again and smile. But she didn’t.

Despite my sorrows, I have many pleasant memories of the tutoring sessions I had with Karen. Initially at hearing the news of her death, I was haunted by the idea that there would be no more memories to create.

I am grateful, beyond measure, to this women. Knowing that Karen basically was there for my Japanese learning at its beginnings, that she had so much faith in my abilities…these are things that I do not take lightly.

Sensei, thank you for everything. You and your lessons will have a place in my memory for the rest of my life.

Karen Touton

10/6/1957-8/21/2007

Beloved daughter, sister,

friend, and teacher

Rest in Peace.

...I'm a horrible sinner destined for Hell.

So the "wyfe" said something. This to be exact:

ConfusedMeNot (8:27:56 PM): you know what would be really interesting to read? a poem written completely in chatspeak.

ConfusedMeNot (8:27:58 PM): not yet.

Tsumirechan (8:28:12 PM): ...I'LL DO IT

Tsumirechan (8:28:18 PM): As long as it can be a fangirly one

Tsumirechan (8:28:26 PM): About Richard Horvitz

ConfusedMeNot (8:28:35 PM): go ahead :D;

Tsumirechan (8:28:33 PM): YES

And so I did.

I hope Richard will never see this. It may scar him for life.

Richard, if you do read this...I want to let you know that I love you in a totally not physical way and this was written for humorous purposes only.

A Fangirly Poem
Written by Acey M
8/22/2007

omg
culd i eva expres
mai undieing luv 4 u

ricahrd horvetz
teh naem eez soorly shweet
leik lemmon-ade no a hawt sumar dei

i thnik abut u
alweiz n 4eva
i wesh we cuold git maryed
n hvae 12 kidz

im sory abut this
taht teh ropez r so tite
btu ni mai hert
i no u no
i do eet uot fo luv