December 6, 2016 ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG

I had this kid in one of my classes who was a great runner. We talked about running and even joked about going for a run together sometime. That sometime never came though as I learned today that he died in a tragic accident. Death. It's  especially difficult when it's a kid. No proms, driver's license, the thrill of turning 21--things we all take for granted. Everyday we tell ourselves not to take things for granted but they are simply words we say or hear whose gravity can't be felt without a barometer. Life really is fragile though  and unfortunately it sometimes takes a tragedy like this to remind us. I've had many discussions with my students over the years where I have asked them why we need pain--either physical, emotional or mental. We always come to the same conclusion-- we  can't truly appreciate love, emotional well-being or even physical pain if we have never experienced its counterpart. Unfortunately, it's our barometer and today was a painful reminder of that lesson. When I think of this particular student though, I think of  his smile, wit and ability to think outside of the box. We read a great book together in seventh grade that he absolutely loved as much as I did because he got it on every level, so I'd like to review it today in remembrance of him.
 It's the classic The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster with great illustrations by Jules Feiffer. This is a great book for middle school students and adults because it is cleverly written. It's filled with complex humor including wordplay, puns, and idioms that are taken literally. Poor Milo, the main character, is bored with everything-school, friends, toys--you name it. One day he goes to his room and there waiting for him is a car and a magic tollbooth.  So, Milo gets in--quite bored with the situation--starts the car and travels through the tollbooth and finds himself in the Kingdom of Wisdom---where he is charged with  a quest to save Rhyme and Reason, two princesses in exile at the Castle in the Air.  It's a great adventure story as Milo travels through the doldrums, the island of conclusions, the mountains of ignorance, the foothills of confusion and several other towns where he meets an array of hilarious, strange characters who make the journey even more fun. This classic novel has sold over 3 million copies and can be read on so many levels. I read it as a kid and then as an adult and  loved it even more.  Jester not only tells a great story but teaches many lessons that are extremely important including the importance of education and questioning authority to name a few. Join Milo on his adventure--it's only about 250  fun filled pages or a 3 mile run you will never forget. RIP, friend.