Thursday, May 6, 2010

EDITORIAL: Here’s One Last Lesson For The Kids

By Gary Jaramillo

And so another school year has passed and all of the great families and schools from small towns and villages in our neck of the woods turn out another wonderful group of fresh, young vibrant young men and women with all of the new wonders of the world at their fingertips.
So much to do, so very much to digest and build in their lives with this world of ours moving at breakneck speed. Seems the world is much smaller now and people are being touched by others thousands of miles away in an instant.
There was a time when we were happy that our kids made friends with the kids across the street, and now they have friends in other countries. Although some of us from an earlier time never had the money or wherewithal to even think about seeing all of the other countries in world, we now sit in our living rooms with our grandchildren and navigate trips by way of computer and live camera tours anywhere in the world. Who would of thunk it?
Just a short 40 years ago, everyone in our small towns and villages would want to visit with anyone who had actually gone to Disneyland in California. That was big in those days. It was likened to world travel for just about everyone around these parts because that kind of (way out there) travel just didn’t happen around here very often. Heck, that was nearly 750 miles away. Sheesh! People would say, better take plenty of water and crackers. You’ll be driving for days, when in fact, Mickey and Minnie were only a 10 hour drive by car - not covered wagon.
Man, talk about living inside the box. We only opened the door and tested the “outside the box” theory with our big toe once every 3 or so years. Back then, parents would always say “get out there and see that big old beautiful world” but we don’t want you to go further than Las Cruces or Santa Fe.” “Very dangerous out there ya know”. But I digress.
The kids today know more about the world and have already seen it from the classroom and there little iboxy telecommunicating square talky texting spacey finger pushing screen thingies that they carry in their pockets, than I ever will. Spock had nothing on today’s children. In fact, Captain Kirk, Spock and the rest of the gang on the Enterprise are passé in our new universe.
There are so many moms’ and dads’ dreams and wishes that have gone by the wayside so the children of today can actually live those dreams and wishes that have influenced all of the wonderful kids from our area. All we can ask is that they use what they have learned in the classroom, and put all of the principles, morals and especially good old everyday common horse sense taught through experience by parents, grandparents and other role models, to good use when they finally are standing on their own two feet “outside the box”.
All of us here at the Mountain Mail hope and pray that every graduate from every school in our little corner of the world becomes what they want to be, and live happy wonderful love filled lives, and make a difference to this world in a way - all their own. We salute the parents, single and married, the grandparents, uncles, aunts
and big brothers and sisters who had the courage and love to stand by this year’s graduates throughout their school years and growing years. Absolutely nothing comes close to what a child can learn from someone who is willing to give from the heart and mind.

Now, you kids that are still in school –
CLEAN YOUR ROOM, BRUSH YOUR TEETH, WASH YOUR BEHINDS, DON’T TALK BACK, SMILE INSTEAD OF THOSE GOOFY LOOKING MEAN LOOKS, TELL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT YOU LOVE THEM EVERY DAY AND MAKE A TRUE EFFORT TO TREAT OTHERS OF EVERY AGE, GENDER, COLOR AND ETHNICITY THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED, SAY PLEASE AND THANK YOU, STAND FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T, KEEP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND DON’T BE IN SUCH A HURRY TO GROW UP AND GET OUT OF SCHOOL! WHEW!

Enjoy every minute of every day with your friends, study hard and thank your teachers for dedicating their lives to making yours even better than theirs. Have a wonderful summer vacation and then get back to the books and continue working hard in every aspect of your lives. The big payoff comes when you wake up tomorrow and you’re 50 years old and everything you wanted and dreamed of has been realized. It all flies by in a flash kids – be courageous and live, love and be happy every minute of every day. We live in America and that in itself is just plain old - sick!

Have a Great Summer Kids!
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