More Q and A

Last year when I participated at Novi Disability Awareness Day we waxed all philosophical and shit. This year I was at a different school with new students so I was interested to see how this year’s event was going to compare to last year, and for the most part, the program went much the same. It seems that this is an event that has been well thought out and that the kids really enjoy. The most notable difference for me this year as opposed to last year was speaking to two different groups instead of the one large group.

The fourth graders I talked to this year had many of the same questions as the kids from last year, questions about wheelchairs, procedural “how do you do ‘this’ and ‘that’?” types of questions, but this year there were a few new questions that stuck out in my mind. First, the question I was expecting last year, but didn’t get until this year, the always snicker-inducing, “How do you go to the bathroom?” My response, after their teacher pounced on the spreading titter, with the pronouncement to the group at large, “It’s ok, someone always asks that question,” was simply, “I’m sitting down here and the toilet is there; so…very carefully.” That got some laughs. The second group of kids I spoke to was big into my personal life and there was a whole sequence of questions inquiring into my favorites; when the first couple questions popped up—my favorite movie, my favorite book—I couldn’t think of anything that, they as fourth graders, might be able to identify with off the top of my head. I tried the cop out answer, “Oh, I have a lot of favorite movies, I wouldn’t be able to pick just one” and I felt kind of bad of not being able to think of a favorite book, reading being fundamental and all, but those answers weren’t going to suffice with this group. Too their credit, they pressed the issued and not thirty seconds after my noncommittal favorite movie answer, another kid asked that same question again; to which I wanted to reply, “Um, dude, I don’t know alright. Lay off!” So, I thought for a second and I told them that if I really had to pick one favorite movie it would be Raiders of the Lost Ark. To my surprise, Indiana Jones apparently transcends generations, as a few kids acted like they agreed that was a good choice. Then, that question led to, “What’s your favorite TV show?” and my reply of The Office elicited several, “Yeahs!,” and one kid in the middle of the crowd to pipe up, “My mom watches that show!” After we covered that territory then one of the girls asked me if I had a girlfriend at the time I was injured. “No,” I said. Did I have a girlfriend now? “No.” The amusing part about that exchange was that after the kids left, the parent coordinator, who was the mother of one of the students, said to me, “I can’t believe you don’t have a girlfriend. I mean, you look good. No seriously, you look great.” I thanked her for the compliment with my usual humility, but honestly relax, lady. Been there; done that.

The best question though, this year’s thinker, was “Who do you admire?” Who do I admire? Hmm. That’s a tough one. Here he is expecting me to name drop some person as a shiny beacon of how I think they should pattern their lives after. Oh man, I’ve done enough crushing of spirits lately. I can’t just say, “no one.” Is it possible I don’t admire anyone? Let’s see, can I have the definition please?
ad-mire (transitive verb)
1. be pleased by
to regard somebody or something with a feeling of pleasure, approval, and often wonder
2. respect
to have a high opinion of somebody or something, for example, a quality or attribute

Thesaurus? Synonyms?
have a high regard for (v.) esteem, think highly of, be in awe of, appreciate, marvel at

Thanks, Microsoft Word Language Tool.

Well, let’s run down the list of typical types of people the public admires. Celebrities: No. I could care less actually. Athletes: I enjoy their ability to procure victories for the teams I root for, but being around athletes at Michigan, I’ve met enough to know that they’re not all that special. Politicians: Yeah, right (and yes, Dad, I considered the Democrats too). The Pope: Not catholic. Important people from history: Well yeah, maybe, but they’re dead. As far as I know Thomas Jefferson was pretty amazing, but I can’t really justify exalting a person of whom I don’t have firsthand knowledge or an opinion. Plus, no matter how great someone like Martin Luther King may be, his greatness isn’t going to resonate with a bunch of fourth graders. There are definitely plenty of people—both famous and otherwise—that I respect in terms of their abilities, intelligence, convictions, etc., but in regards to being in awe of, marveling at, or holding up on a pedestal…I can’t really think of any.

Maybe I’m too cynical. Maybe I’m reading into the literal interpretation of the definition too much. Maybe, as an adult, it’s too hard to place people who are basically my contemporaries above me. Maybe the problem is that I’m just too kick-ass to be in awe of anyone else. I guess that’s an explanation I can live with. But not wanting to leave any questions unanswered I just told them, “Tom Brady.” He’s a fellow Michigan grad. Took what many believed to be marginal talent and turned himself into one of best of his chosen profession. He seems to be a decent person and if their reactions are any indication, the fourth graders liked him as a choice worth admiring. I stopped short of proclaiming that I think it’s awesome that Brady’s greatest achievement might very well be trading up from this to this. I’ll save that snippet if I’m ever asked to address sixth graders. They’ll understand better.