AnneLyze

My son Benjamin is a freshman at Albany High School. He came home from school on Friday and said he was seriously thinking of going to school in Berne where his Dad lives. When pressed about why, he replied, “I just don’t like it at AHS. I don’t like all the ghetto kids and I hate being called a cracker!” I was disturbed at his use of the word ghetto and puzzled at the word cracker. What did cracker mean? I couldn't believe Ben was going to leave his friends and sports behind over words. Ben’s definition of ghetto was, “kids who are ignorant, use slang or incorrect grammar, wear their pants too low, don’t try in school, and they think they are all that and more”. I then asked if only black kids were ghetto and he said “no, white kids too, it was all about their attitude”. Though upon reflection, he added that it was mostly black kids. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary gives the definition of ghetto as “a part of the city in which members of a minority group live especially because of ...

These are the stories of Moses Washington and Parcella Post. They are buried in Graceland Cemetery. The circumstances surrounding both of their deaths remains a mystery. On November 22, 1922 a dark headed, teenage girl brought a package to the Post Office to be mailed. The destination was close and the postal worker asked her why not just walk it there. She said she was in a hurry and it was just some laundry. The package was delivered to A. B. Kiernan, an undertaker. Upon opening the package, Mr. Kiernan and his wife found a dead newborn and a $5.00 bill. It was a girl, approximately three days old. An autopsy showed the child had been born healthy but was smothered to death, probably by a pillow. The Times Union reported on November 23, 1922 that "The tenderest treatment is being afforded this tiny atom of humanity. It's little body reposes in a tiny white casket especially made by Mr. Kiernan and the wee form is clothed in immaculate white, which Mrs. Kiernan made with her ...

Over Columbus Day Weekend, my ex husband Bill and his wife Diane, went to Parents Weekend at SUNY Buffalo. I worked my second job. It was a very busy weekend and I worked really hard. I knew they were going and I didn't care. On his radio show, the Tuesday following, Sam thanked his parents for coming and said how much fun he had. After working my ass off on the weekend, getting chewed out by my boss, and having a really bad day, my feelings were hurt and I turned the radio show off. I tried to tell Sam how I felt the next day and he totally didn't get it and got mad. I should have kept it to myself. So what's it all about? In two words, I'm afraid. When Bill left, I felt like I'd lost everything, except my boys, but I could easily lose them too. I'm afraid that they love their father more than they love me, or even worse they love Diane more than me. I'm afraid that they will pick him. I'm afraid to spend yet another holiday alone waiting for the gu...