Ghost writing.

Crazy random happenstances from the past few days:

- I keep waking up with headphones around my neck, wrapped around me tightly.
- A teacher had sexual relations with a student. Atrocious and saddening.
- I finished Black Coffee. and absolutely loved it.
- I counted how many times I said “I” yesterday, and lost count within four hours of being awake. Not good.
- Hopefully, I will be going to Austin on Sunday. I miss it so much.
- Oh, did I mention the phenomenon that is of the passing of the LRA Disarmament bill? Greatest thing to happen in quite a long time. So much work is ahead of us, but we finally got what we’ve been working so diligently towards.
- God is undeniably perfect. This doesn’t fit the category, but I needed to say it.

This is what a new friend of mine has written up for my blog tonight. Somewhat accurate. Somewhat strange. Somewhat transparent. Very amusing (for myself at least).

“Hi. MKS. Midnight. Bored. U2. Can’t sleep. School ends tomorrow. Feels like a whole lifetimes ending and beginning all at the same time. Listening to Title and Registration. Death Cab. Voice sounds eerily familiar. Feeling that Ben Gibbard is incognito with Postal Service. Saw picture of LRA leader. He-whose-name-must-not-be-named. I ran out of the room. Now I’m here. Typing. I’m MKS. Typing here, in the dark, makes me wonder if I’m even awake. I feel an onset of random philosphical gibberish coming. It’s uncontrollable. THIS SOUNDS LIKE IM TRIPPIN’ ON ACCIDDD. Wait. No, I AM tripping on ACID, LSD to be exact. OH CRAP. I forgot. So guess what? Breaking news. That LRA bill I’m always blogging about none of you actually know about? Yeah, it got passed. – random moment of enjoyment – Back to square one. Know what I realized? Government is so SLOW. No wonder everyone in government is actually pretty old. Anyone my age in government would derail the whole thing. So much for patience. Err wait, it’s a virtue. Government = patience = virtue. Government = virtue. Wait, what?”

Rare events.

I started reading this book yesterday, called Black Coffee. by Kirby Alfaro, and I am about halfway done with it. Pretty riveting I must say. I come across revelations far too rarely. This book is a nice little wake-up call for me.

One of my sisters leaves for Mexico in a few days for a long study abroad trip, and I can honestly say I’m going to miss her. Ten weeks is a very long time. At least I’m getting another one of my sisters back from ATX. I’m sad to bid farewell to my sister but ecstatic to have another one back for the summer.

7 days left until school’s end. How is it that I have a project to do when this last six weeks grade means nearly nothing? I’m not a very prideful person, and whether one takes that in a good or bad way is up to that person. But having less pride takes pressure off me and allows me to go after what I really care about and have a passion for.

Speaking of, I would really love if you could take a few seconds to go to this website and tell Obama how important it is that he makes a PUBLIC, personal statement of commitment to help end LRA violence and support the recovery of LRA-affected communities.

Here is the website! http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/pending-legislation/s.-1067
I am wishing, hoping, and praying that Obama signs this into effect. Lord knows how much this is needed.

I love joyous news. Another thing that happens not enough. This type of event allows all partisans to come together in celebration and be grateful and happy with one another. That is what I am experiencing right now, and man it feels great. The less these things happen, the more I appreciate them. Funny how things unfold like that.

The LRA, tennis, and high standards.

I’m astounded of what happened yesterday as The House discussed the LRA Bill. They passed it unanimously, finally giving all of us who have been praying for it to go through. I personally went to my representative and a Senator to discuss why they should co-sponsor this bill, and it is miraculous to see my efforts producing results. I watched C-SPAN live as representatives across these states supported this bill and talked about the electrifying organization that I am so passionate about: Invisible Children. Everyone has worked so hard to get this bill (and war) noticed and for people to act on their apathetic feelings. I grow more and more in love with IC’s work and the people involved in it. The roadies are back at headquarters and the Ugandans are all back home. I truly love those guys and gals and I hope to see them again someday. The times we hung out and stayed up late talking about who knows what, going to Deep Ellum and tattoo shops, eating Indian food and going to Inwood… Those six people will always hold a special place in my heart because their drive, passion, and spirits are so unique and inspiring. I love each one of them. I also love all my friends who have helped out with any IC work and to those who have attended screenings and benefit shows (and the artists who performed). I cannot say it enough, but I am immensely grateful. I cannot wait to continue the IC journey at St. Edward’s in the fall.

In other news, the athletic banquet was the other night and of course, once again, tennis was not invited. The three time district champ tennis team is not considered as part of athletics, because apparently tennis is not a sport. As much as I love Texas, I truly despise the lack of enthusiasm for other sports and the atrocious love and attention American football receives. (I will never forget how my principal went to the JV football game last fall instead of coming to the first IC screening I hosted). But maybe that is just me setting high standards for people.

I find that I set unreasonably high standards for my friends and those around me. Maybe I just expect a lot out of people, but as Mike Dsane once said, I believe a person should have passion in everything they do. Without passion, there is a lack of care, and to me, that is no way to live life. My family has always expected only the best out of my sisters and I, so I took that into the world outside my household and found out to be quite disappointed. Maybe Austin will prove to be different.

I leave you with this quote that I heard Anthony Bourdain say on his show while eating in Japan:

“I went to brush something off my cheek, and it was the floor.”

Mothers of the disappeared.

The Joshua Tree is great to listen to in its entirety.

Went to the park today after tennis. I had a lot of energy, so I ran. I wanted to keep running, and end up in a totally different place. A different world even, where things like this couldn’t happen:

“This weekend, Human Rights Watch released a shocking account of a previously unreported massacre, one of the largest and most gruesome ever committed by the LRA. Between December 14 and 17 of this past year, the rebel group killed at least 321 people and abducted more than 250 others – including many children – in a string of attacks across northeastern Congo.

“Most of those killed were tied up before the LRA hacked them to death with machetes or crushed their skills with axes, clubs or heavy sticks. Those who were abducted but walked too slowly, refused or were unable to carry the heavy loads, or who tried to escape were also killed.”

A Congolese traditional chief who lost his son in the attack told researchers,

“We have been forgotten. It’s as if we don’t exist. The government says the LRA are no longer a problem, but I know that’s not true. I beg of you, please talk to others about what has happened to us.”

I feel like my heart has just been ripped out. I can’t believe this happened near Christmas AGAIN and we are just now hearing about it. That’s the most disgusting part. These victims really are invisible. I’m tired of the apathetic. I’m sick of the selfishness.

We were put on earth to help one another and love each other. By witnessing these attacks and letting them go unnoticed is flat out wrong. I have a difficult time comprehending the absurdity of these acts.

Doing nothing is doing harm.

Life just seems to be whirl-winding down into a black hole of abyss. Things are not getting any better, in fact much worse. I pray that this weekend will enable me to wake up from this disastrous nightmare. And on top of it all, the one thing I wanted more than anything didn’t happen. Out of embarrassment, I won’t say the specifics, but I just feel like a true failure.

Side note: Take a walk, save the earth. Not an aimless drive. I’m just saying.

This is the hope that lies in you.

Wow. Don’t you love that feeling when everything seems to have shifted, for the better? The affect that people can have on one person is immense. There’s a plethora of happiness going on and I have Invisible Children to thank for that. My happiness can always be routed back to them. Having the IC roadies at my house last week was a fun, entertaining and joyous occasion. I feel so blessed to have met them, conversed with them, spent time with them, and gotten to know all of them. They are truly the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life. I realise that’s a monstorous statement but it’s one I wholeheartedly mean. The Ugandans (Lilian and Benna) shared some great stories with us, and Lilian and my dad got to talk about their childhoods together (growing up in Uganda and India was apparently very similar). I really miss all of them and am so grateful to have learned things so much from them with the short amount of time we all had together.

I also am pleased with the screening and want to thank everyone who came. We raised $43 in cupcakes, brownies and bracelets, and sold $1450 worth of merchandise. And 5 children have full tuition in their school in Uganda as well. I want to thank you guys for not being apathetic anymore. Apathy is a feeling that has plagued us all. We see tormented individuals and know it’s terrible, but then we go on with our day thinking to ourself, “Well I can’t do everything for everyone.” My dad was talking to me about how he spends the same amount of money on lotto tickets every month that the visible child scholarship asks for (which is $35) and how he’s going to stop his gambling habit with lottery tickets so he can help a student in need. In the words of my father, “People aren’t hesitant to give $40 or $50 to their own kid, because they know them. But giving to someone you’ve never met and will never know, that’s a different story. That takes a wholehearted, giving person. Our Guru’s taught us to be selfless and giving, and there are so many that don’t live that type of lifestyle. But for me, I know what’s right, and this change is right.”

Senator Coburn finally lifted his hold on the LRA bill. I jumped and screamed for joy when I found out yesterday during tennis. I got stared at, but the joy overcame me and I couldn’t help my actions. The passing of this bill is going to change everything. Watching it progress one step at a time lights up my heart. I’ve been calling Senator Hutchison’s office daily to hopefully get through to someone. I’ve emailed, called, and have done everything short of stalking but I’m getting zero responses. I’m also calling/emailing Congressman Sessions, and am also not getting results. It’s frustrating, but persistence is key.

In Partners in Art today, Josh had a visitor come and talk to him. I assumed it was a teacher. The man was very nice, just like the other adults that come in. I noticed them saying “I love you man” to each other and I admired their close relationship. (Josh’s speech is difficult to understand at times but for the most part, we know what he is saying). After the mysterious man left, I asked Mrs. Rogers who it was. She surprised me with the response, “That’s Josh’s dad. His parents are divorced and he only sees his dad every couple weekends.” As Mrs. Rogers continued talking about Josh and his parents, I was fighting back the tears. Josh is one of the friendliest and sweetest kids in that class. He started crying when his dad was about to leave, and only then I understood why. I remember him kissing his dad’s hand, and his dad kept saying I love you over and over. Replaying this now is painful. My dad and I are very close, and I could never imagine what it would be like to not have a father in my life. It pains me to know Josh is not only dealing with his own mental and physical disabilities, but he doesn’t even have strong family support at home. I feel I need to double up my love for him to attempt to make him forget his home life for at least an hour.

ਹਰਿ ਨਾਲਿ ਰਹੁ ਤੂ ਮੰਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਦੂਖ ਸਭਿ ਵਿਸਾਰਣਾ ॥
Remain always with the Lord, O my mind, and all sufferings will be forgotten.

This line from Anand Sahib keeps me going.