[Laneco]

We moved a lot when I was a kid, but things settled down somewhat when I was in 8th grade. We moved to a rural ranching type community and I fit in very well. Stayed there a couple of years and made great long term friends. There were all the high school shenanigans, games, laughter, pranks, occasional tears, and great friends. I was all set to graduate a year early.

Then we moved to another town. It was a night and day difference. I hated every single day and was treated abysmally by the school, the teachers, and the students. Three fist fights the first two weeks with girls thinking they could gang up on me. I made damn sure they got the worst of the action by a long shot, and the physical fights stopped dead after that. But the other crap never stopped. I mean NEVER. I've never stolen a thing in my life but I could count on being dragged out of class about once a month to have my locker searched because I'd been accused of theft. Absolutely hated every single day. If that weren't bad enough, it was a different state and the graduation requirements were different. Instead of graduating at the end of my Junior year (which would have only been a few more months) I got stuck in that skunk hole another year.

But it ends. Thank heavens. College was great (tough because I worked full time) but absolutely exactly what I needed.

angela