Page 89 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2023 - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS
CHOICES

Read her story on page 50-52 Inspiration
by Janie Landin
Ramirez

rom the day we met on Valentine's 5’11”, and I was a petite 5’2”. Throughout
Day in the ninth grade, I knew my high school, we remained a couple. After
Flife would never be the same. My graduation, I chose college; he chose a job
creative writing teacher, Mrs. Watson, had as a cook at a local hospital. He enjoyed
tasked us with writing poetry for our class cooking.
project, selling Valentine grams to students.
My entry was a love poem that began, “I We chose to marry during my sophomore
thought that you would want to know, that year in college. I do not recommend that
someone’s thoughts go where you go.” because college is hard enough without the
Each Valentine gram was ten cents. They added stress of marriage, but we made it
would be delivered during homeroom work. He did the cooking and the laundry
on Valentine’s Day. I received several and kept our tiny apartment tidy so I could
friendship grams and one that I immediately study. Our first son was born four months
recognized as my own poem. It was from a after I graduated from Texas Tech, and three
boy named Sandy. I did not know him and years later, our second son completed our
did not have him in any of my classes. He family. My three boys were my life.
appeared at my locker after homeroom. He
was shy and awkward. Choices always have consequences; choices
determine our destiny, as well as the lives
“Did you get my Valentine?” he asked. of others. No one chooses to lose the love
of their life in an accident, but one day, a
“I did, thank you,” I replied. high school student chose to skip school
and go joyriding. He did not plan to alter
“May I walk you to your class?” he asked. the lives of others, but his choice did just
that, when he ran over a biker. Our lives
From that day on, we became a couple. would never be the same, nor his. But Sandy
Mrs. Watson did not approve. “You are my had made a choice also, to list himself as
smartest student,” she said. “This young an organ donor on his driver’s license. My
man is a C student. What can you possibly young sons learned early about the gift of
have in common?” organ donation. His choice impacted others
in incredible ways, and he left us a living
She may have meant well, but she did not memory of his love. We chose love and
know the kind, gentle spirit whom I grew to family, and ultimately, Sandy also chose
love. We were an odd pair. He was a stocky heroism and legacy.

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