Skip to main content

Missing Solomon

I'm not the only one who misses Solomon.

These kids, who I miss very much, saw a friend murdered a couple of years ago.  I've worried about them a lot, especially the older one, who protects the younger one to some extent.  He has had a lot of problems before and since the murder, and often seems very hardened.  I have been worried about him for a long time and haven't heard from him lately.

These two boys were very close to Solomon, my late puppy.  I told them that he passed away and didn't hear back.  I waited a few months, sent them Christmas cards, and didn't hear back.  I texted them a photo of the new puppy this week and finally heard back.

The younger one said "Is that a pitt she is cute."

The older one asked what I did with Solomon when he died.  the text "conversation" went like this:

Him: What did you do to puppy when he died:

Me: I had him cremated.  You know what that is?

Him: Yea when they burn you and put you in a box

Me: Yeah.  So I can keep the box, bury it, or scatter his ashes.  I haven't decided yet because I still miss him too much.

Him: I think you should keep it.  I miss puppy to.

Him: I bet you feel wierd not seeing puppy there huh

Me: I do feel weird.  I miss him.

Him: Me too. Puppy was a happy nice dog.

Me: He really was.

Him: Do you think puppy is in heaven with God?

Me: God created him and I think that Puppy showed God's love to everyone.

Him: Maybe that's why puppy was so happy all the time.  Can you please send me a picture of puppy?  I miss him.

A kid who was too hardened wouldn't care about Solomon and if Solomon was in heaven.  It would be hard to blame a teenager who had seen a friend murdered - along with many other tragedies in his life - for not being touched by a dog who was "happy and nice" - but he was.

I think that makes it harder to be Jorge, but I also think that means that there's hope for him.


One year ago: A New Job!

Four years ago: Chinese New Year!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Volunteers

I had some of the most overqualified volunteers ever in my third grade class.  This may have had something to do with the fact that I shamelessly begged my friends to help in any way possible.  I think there were a few friends who I asked to come as soon as I met them, before I was entirely sure of their names.  Some of my volunteers included: -Someone with an MFA helping kids read -a PhD candidate in chemical engineering from Stanford helping with math -a PhD candidate in civil engineering from Cal helping with math -several PhD candidates in engineering from Cal teaching about construction (several years in a row) and helping with a field trip -my extremely talented brother bringing his drums several times -a friend from Pixar who got us tours three different years, once when they were no longer giving tours - and came to the class to sign the kids' toys from Cars . -a physical therapist (who I think has a masters') who helped the kids with reading -many athlet...

The Difference a School Makes

Update:   9/28/26: If you are reading this, the spoiler alert is that things got much harder for Jorge after this, and we kept in touch over the decades, even as he’s been incarcerated. He’s getting out of prison in early 2027 and I’m raising money to help him start his life fresh because everyone deserves second chances. Please take a look! Wow. I've talked before about the two kids that a friend and I mentor in a way. I'll call them Jorge (the older one) and Luis (the younger). I had Jorge in my class in third grade and he has had it rough. He's the oldest of six children and was born when his mother was 14. His mom is frequently in rehab or jail, although she seems to have been out for the last couple of years. If she's clean or not is anyone's guess. Jorge helped his grandmother raise Luis. He's always been super over-responsible, stressed out, and had way too many adult responsibilities. About a year ago, Jorge started to crack. He was 13, which isn't f...

The Best Mistake

I recently wanted to get a pedicure (I promise this will be important) and was looking at nail salons nearby. I knew there was a place called Kim's Nails near my exercise class, so I quickly googled to see if I could make an appointment online (I hate calling on the phone) and it let me, so I made an appointment for a few days later and went on with my day. Later that day, I got a text confirming my appointment and I realized that I had made the appointment at the wrong Kim's Nails! I meant to make an appointment for the one in my city and I made one at a nail shop in the next city over (Kim's Nails is a common business name). Because I had already made the appointment and they had taken the time to text me, I figured I'd just go with it. OK, if you're still with me, this is where it gets exciting! A few hours after I got the confirmation text, the owner of Kim's Nails texted me again. the text just said, "Are you a teacher?" I didn't know why they...