They are Next

It is Tuesday night 6:00 p.m. and I'm feeling in poor health and buzzing by lack of sleep, moody, cranky, and sad. While my youngest daughter plays the sax at the middle school football game, my oldest daughter and I are at a meeting about class rings. My oldest daughter is sixteen and a junior. As a man, a grown man, I have a hard time thinking up a larger waste of money. As a father it would be nice to be able to to afford one for her. As an under-employeed former construction manager it is all moot because the funds to purchase this luxury just doesn't exist.

My daughter is holding out hope though, bless her heart. She's at the table right now with her more fortunate friends pondering choices- ring styles and stone cuts. She does deserve one. Her older brother didn't get one, didn't want one.

I'm here embarrassed, the only parent not in line or thumbing through the catalog( also the only father in the room). She knows I can't afford it. She doesn't know how much it breaks my heart for her.

"Form three lines!" the school superintendent says.
"Get your check books ready!" he says again smiling...at me.

One look at him and you know him. Never been broke, poor, hungry. Never been to a single place where he's ever feared for his life, or wallet. Doesn't know how close he is right now to getting punched in the mouth, the spoiled arrogant asshole.

You know he was never popular but was successful in school, his whole life in school. Never a star athlete, maybe participated in something lame, like...track, but now he runs this school. He's probably fired people due to budget cuts but probably has not been effected in the least by the recession. Guys like that believe those who have been effected deserve it: didn't study enough, not smart enough, not good enough.

But those who have been effected will make it and be what he will never understand. We will be survivors. We will win. He will not be stronger for these times. We, I, will be unstoppable. His spoiled bratty kids won't learn anything. Our children will be next greatest generation.

My sixteen year old daughter, without her class ring will have more life, soul, and responsibility. They will be next. They will be great regardless of how many video games they play, regardless of how much they txt.

They too will be survivors and there is no one anywhere stronger or better than a survivor.

I am proud of her.