Battery Creek adds 254 Alumni

The ceremony was outside, otherwise I would have had to be sneaky to get inside. I was grateful for that. I gave him a card, as well as two nice gift cards. He thanked me and gave me some nice hugs and kisses. I got a phone call later on my way home and got bitched out for it (see previous post, specifically the last line). What’re you gonna do? I felt honored he requested me to be there, and I got him some gifts as a congratulatory present for being #2 out of 254. Amazing. He’s truly amazing.

Last Friday Jamie ‘came back’ in an effort to talk and work things out. That has fallen by the wayside as Jekyll gave way to Hyde and he reneged on much of what he said in writings and conversations. Frustrating indeed, makes if very difficult to work through anything when he constantly says “you don’t get it” – I’d get it if you said anything other than that. Eish. The turning point for him was apparently Tuesday when he came up to the Charleston Art Institute for some sort of event they called him about. I didn’t go, but he told me it was not what they explained it to be on the phone and he was disappointed. I wanted to see him that night, but he refused and didn’t care that it upset me. He said he couldn’t do it any more, and me being at wit’s end agreed. I needed to just get out of it for a day or so.

Relationships are a funny thing. They’re built, I think, on communication, and I have to say that for as much as Jamie and I talk(ed), there seemed to be a lapse in communications. They’re never easy, these relationships, and those that are too easy, have something wrong. Jamie was, and is, despite the issues, the best thing I’ve had in my life in recent years, and it hurts me to the core that he can’t or won’t calm down enough and subside the stubbornness. I honestly believe that he and I can work it out, and no that’s not hope talking, it’s what I feel down in my soul and my heart. Maybe a week or two apart will calm the nerves and clear the air so we can talk again – I do not know. He’s held the power in the relationship for the most part, and he holds it here too – but not as much as he did before. There will have to be a serious talk before anything can continue, and we both would need to be honest and frank about what each other want and need out of the relationship. I do know and feel that he can do it – he has up until this point – and I know that I am willing to try if the shortcomings are on my side, I just need to know what I need to do.

So Jamie, if you read this, or if you’re told about it, that’s the unadulterated truth. This needn’t be the end of Jamie and Chris, but we need to talk, and talk seriously without any insults, without any temper tantrums. Complete honesty. I think your posts from last week are the most honest you’ve been. Call me, boo. We can work it out. I know you know it’s true.

I drove down to surprise him a little early, and despite some unfortunate happenings at school that day he was not in a terrific mood, but he did not let that ruin the night. At around 1700 we met his teacher, Dee Matthews, and we headed towards Savannnah in what was probably one of the worst rain storms I’ve driven in in many years. We ‘floated’ down there and we got to the hotel a little early, so we made our way to the Grand Ballroom where the event was to be held. Once they let us in to be seated, Jamie was wide-eyed and he remarked that it was so beautiful and that he’d never attended an event like this before. After a short opening segment we had good conversation as well as our salad and dinner, followed by the actual awards presentation. Jamie, fortunate with a last name starting with an ‘A,’ ended up being second.

Jamie & Mrs. Matthews

They presented Jamie with a medallion and Mrs. Matthews with a plaque, and the announcers read short quips from the paper that each student entered. Jamie was chosen above a number of his peers to be in a pool of those asked to enter the contest. While being chosen was an honor, being selected out of the already ‘chosen few’ is even more indicative of how exemplary a student Jamie is. There were two student/teacher pairs from each school.

I’m so proud of Jamie, whether I should be or not, as I’m merely his boyfriend, but regardless I’m proud. As I sat there and listened to each pair get called I sat and thought about how remarkable all of their stories were and how each student adapted and overcame their obstacles and still managed to excel. It made me think back to my days in school and how I realllllly should have applied myself, as I had no excuse not to, and here were students that had some very difficult circumstances thrown their way and they didn’t even bat an eye. Here is Jamie’s citation from the SMN site (link below):

JAMIE ARNOLD: Battery Creek High School

National Honor Society, honor roll, photographer, president of French Club, treasurer of Interact Club, volunteers at nursing home, Capa and Goodwill, works part-time.

Jamie is enthusiastic about his academic challenges and readily participates in all that is asked of him.

FUTURE PLANS: Trident Technical College

TEACHER: Dee Matthews, Battery Creek High School, teacher and coach.

Mrs. Dee Matthews has gone beyond the borders of a superior teacher for me.

After the banquet was over we snapped a few photographs and headed home, much drier weather. We stopped off in Bluffton to meet one of Jamie’s friends who wanted to see him all spiffed up. I’m a little biased, but he looked absolutely spectacular last night. Afterward I dropped him at his house and I headed back up here to Charleston since I had work today, arriving around 0045. I went right to bed I was so exhausted.

So to all the students awarded last night, and especially to my Jamie, congratulations on your achievements. To all the teachers out there-not just the ones honored last night-congratulations on doing what you do and doing it so well.

Jamie and I

Read the Savannah Morning News article here. View more pictures here. WTOC Channel 11 in Savannah has a very small spot here as well.

Yeah, so it’s a little wet outside right now. It’s a thin band of storms, probably over in less than 30 minutes.

Today was the nine month mark for Jamie and I. Well, 9 months if you ignore that little two month part where we weren’t all that together…lol. I love him lots and hope we will have many more months and maybe years together. Who knows. One day at a time. A silly shot of he and I at the Apple store downtown. For the record, I didn’t purchase any of their overpriced gadgetry. We snagged this shot off a monitor that was displaying the images from a webcam on a notebook machine to my right (hence why I’m looking that direction).

I’m ready to go home. While I’ve not had a terrible time here in Austin, I’d much rather be at home. I would have to say that I miss part of traveling, even if only in the continental US, but part of me does not miss the not being home. Only having what you brought with you and lacking the ability to get in a car – my car – and go where I please sorta sucks. But I’ve had a pretty good time. Off to bed. I have one more day at this conference and then I leave on Thursday.