Some thoughts of Senetra

What a talented lady! She made this one under the supervision of my 3-year old nephew. Senetra and I have been friends since college (1992) despite the fact that she thought I was the PARENT of a student... She is an avid reader, doesn't do the "idle chit-chat" thing, and will put grape jelly on ham on purpose. She also eats Spam (which doesn't burn or char - it melts!) and other pork-type products. She often has very odd dreams involving people we know doing things they would never do and could sometimes be imprisoned for. Senetra has the unique and unusual ability to not answer a question. Ask her a direct question and you'll get a vague statement that may or may not answer the question according to your interpretation of it. She's always thinking, pretty quiet, and one of those people that ya "have to get used to." You know, people whom you form an opinion about based on your first impression and after you get to know them you find out you were totally wrong? She's one of them. That's not a bad thing, that's just how it is. That about covers the odd stuff, here's the other stuff.

We met on our first day at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan. Senetra and I were two of 11 minority students attending the school that year due to major advancements in recruiting. There was me from Indiana and her from the Detroit metropolitan area. All 11 of us hung out together for 2 weeks in the AMBITION program, which I don't believe is an acronym for anything but is capitalized anyway. The big difference between me and the other 10 - my Baby. Not a human child or anything, but my mini-van. I was free to travel the highways and interstates when I wanted to, go to Kmart without relying on Adrian's cheesy "Dial a Ride" van, or cry at the sight of a foot of snow and ice on my windshield. Yes, I had the "Party Van." But I didn't drink or smoke or do drugs or want to hang around anyone who did. I liked to read, dance, and skip class. So did Senetra. After a month or so the 11 AMBITION people began to find other interests, but Senetra and I became friends. We both came from large (mine's bigger!) and strange (hers is weirder) families, and have "Uncle Juniors." But what I like best about her is her ability to listen and be objective. We don't have to be wildly entertaining or anything around each other. I remember one day we sat in the same room reading different books, not speaking for hours, and that was cool. Most people would interrupt and drive you crazy. She also appreciates (or tolerates) all the weird things about me. Like the way I hate listening to the radio when I drive unless I can concentrate on the commercials and turn down the music. On long trips, I have to have my own tapes or CDs so I don't go nutty. In college, she knew my favorite songs and would play them while we were coming back from a not-so-great experience. When I get pissed I get quiet. She knows I need time to work it out (make elaborate plans of destruction...) and can actually leave me alone! If you've been there, you know how important it is. She's also always there when I need to pour out my frustration with the world for hours on a long distance call. It seems that as the older we get, the more pouring I do. I pour more than she does, and sometimes I wonder if she's got less to pour about or if she just handles her frustrations better! I would definitely say that between us friends, Senetra is the stable one!

Senetra and I in the parking lot of - you guessed it - Farmer Jack!!!

So what since college? She is an Assistant Bookkeeper for (I am trying not to laugh at the name) Farmer Jack Grocery Store. She's worked there for quite a few years and would take over the store chain if they gave her enough time and she didn't have to move to Indiana. That's wishful thinking - I want her to move here. She's also a Trekker (Vulcan, of course) and a Maxxis 2000 Independent Representative. Senetra met her "MAN" Nate at a Star Trek convention, and he's rather serious about her! If things go OK I get to pick my own dress for the wedding! Nate lives in Anderson but is f r om New Castle, a small community where it's not unusual to live on a farm... (I am trying to be nice, really!) They had Tractor Day at his high school, really! It's really hard not to make fun of Tractor Day. Anyway, my friends from the Star Trek club are now my friends, and are her friends too! They all really want her to move down here as soon as possible. They will even help her move! But not until she earns her Associate's degree... Study hard, Senetra! She's remained her same, generous self, sending g ifts to my nephew for holidays... remembering all the things that I think are important, playing games like Dune2000 and Deadlock until our fingers hurt and the sun rises again... and being one of those people that you thank God for because you know them.