What They Knew in Junior High

This has nothing to do with kidney disease but is too good to keep to myself. As a bonus, it relates to a recent post.

I had a small-world moment on Facebook last week, when I noticed that one of my best friends (Aimee) was tagged in the same post as one of my childhood friends (Lonnie). Turns out they both live in the same city, have kids in the same school, and even live in the same neighborhood.

Aimee and Lonnie knew each other, but neither knew that they both had a connection with me. Until now. I'm sure that the conversation between someone who knows me really well now and someone who knew me really well as a kid was entertaining, to say the least.

Aimee mentioned she was coming to see me last weekend, and Lonnie unearthed some documents and sent them along -- including a photocopy of our junior high class mock awards. You know, stuff like most popular and best dressed -- and no, I didn't win either of those. But I did win two categories:

1. Class Optimist
2. Best Joke Teller

I have no memory of these mock awards and got a huge kick out of reading over the list. I was fascinated by the timing, since I just blogged about my writing style and how a co-worker pegged me as an optimist. So it must be true. I mean, even if you don't think handwriting analysis is credible, you can't argue with the wisdom of 8th graders, can you?

Maybe optimism truly is a part of my core being. I'm glad, because I need every ounce of positive energy to fight this fight.

Then there's this joke telling thing. All I have to say about that is:

So a priest, a rabbi and a duck walk into a bar....