My grade school education was one of considerable peaks and valleys that I have since managed to tuck way in the back corner of my mind. In other words, I don't often reminisce my time with it. It was there, it happened, things were learned, and then I left. I'm always grateful for all the teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, and hell, even the janitors along the way who made sure I kept my mind fresh, focused, and relatively out of trouble. Like most grade school kids, I may have made a few mistakes from time to time, but I left with no regrets and quite thankfully, a diploma in my hand. The most difficult adjustment I faced throughout my education in this town came at the hands of the district itself. I can trace it all the way back to the beginning of third grade. My father had recently been laid off from a railroad company that was rapidly losing money and other services to the opposition. Both my sister and I were enrolled in Catholic school at the time, obliviou...