Notes - a thought on Lorissa

         You worked outside on the north side of the house as well as dusted the upstairs this morning. You just had a late Subway picnic lunch as you are sitting in the park along the Little Miami. Carol is on page 95 of the Grisham book. You can hear the rustle of leaves this very clear-skied Fall this afternoon. You are feeling a bit down after reading that one of your former sophomore students at Mason was murdered in 2009. The Facebook page you found this morning was “Justice for Lorissa” – it is the first you have heard about it. You have not ‘liked’ the site yet and have asked for more details to be sent to your rhorndorff email address. – Amorella

         Lorissa was a cute, pretty and perky energetic sophomore girl who enjoyed English class very much. At one time she mentioned that she might like to major in English at college. I enjoyed her get up and go personality. That was a long time ago. She did seem to be more aware of the world than some of her fellow students but I am not sure what I mean by that, ‘seasoned and savvy are better words. I think she left at the end of the year. I could easily picture her as a gritty/wiry reporter or writer working an urban beat in the big city. She didn’t get along with some of the girls in school at the time. I don’t know what that was about either.

         I liked Lorissa though and have thought about her and what she might be doing with her life. I don’t know if she ever went to college or not. She lived in a nice area of north Mason school district at the time. I assume she went to college. I am shocked to find she was murdered. I would have thought someone at school would have heard about it and told me. I don’t ever remember reading about it in the newspaper. I can’t remember her last name, but she is the only one, or one of two Larissa’s I ever had in class. The other might have been at Indian Hill High back in the seventies. (1438)

         A few spotty white clouds have moved in, but mostly it is still cool and sunny. In a lifetime of teaching some of your students have had their lives end tragically and you feel bad for all their friends and families. You don’t remember all their names either but their memories are nuzzled about in the deep everyone has in them. – Amorella

         I like the word ‘nuzzled’ Amorella. I don’t believe I have ever used it before. It is an immediately comforting word in this context. Carol just closed her book and eyes. Time for us to head for home. (1444)

         I have added “Justice for Lorissa” to my Facebook page. We had a busy day. For whoever is reading have a good evening and the best of good weekends.   rho

         Post. - Amorella