It was OR I was
I was sitting in church a few
Sundays ago,
And my attention wasn’t focused on
the pastor…
I was instead concentrating on my
breathing.
I was thinking about my diaphragm
contracting,
Increasing the volume of my
thoracic cavity, allowing air to flow in
Down the concentration gradient, from the high pressure of outside, into my lungs.
The oxygen from this air was
absorbed into the blood through the alveoli,
And the blood traveled down the
pulmonary vein to that big lump of muscle,
My heart.
Oh how my heart beats!
(I know how it beats; the Sino-atrial
node sends an electric pulse to stimulate coronary muscle)
Oh how my blood flows!
(I know how it flows; from veins to
the right atrium, then the right ventricle, and then through the arteries.)
Oh how my muscles move!
(I know how they move; calcium
floods the sarcomere, causing proteins on the actin filament to move and allow
the myosin heads to attach to actin filaments).
I was definetly not focused.
But this knowledge had some intrinsic value as I sat in the sanctuary.
But this knowledge had some intrinsic value as I sat in the sanctuary.
I then thought of the sensations
these omnipresent physiological processes allow.
They let us move, breathe, smell,
see, hear, feel, laugh, remember, eat, poop
What a blessing!
At this most basic level, I didn’t
know where to direct my gratitude.
I have a lot of thanks built up,
and it is precious to me.
I don’t want to waste it.
So, I’ll thank the people I know
can hear me.
The ones that I have shared these
experiences with.
It was fun to laugh until it hurt
with Marin in World Religions last year.
It was good (but a bit scary) to
get way too competitive in Pictionary. (Sorry Abby)
It was hard to go to a memorial
service for a grieving friend and family.
It was exciting to learn about and
investigate the world through my teachers.
It was stressful to plan out my next
four years.
It was hilariously difficult to
fight off senioritis (still is)
It was cathartic to sing and act
with a group of like-minded peers.
It was depressing to read our novels
(1984, The Stranger, Woman at Point Zero)
It was necessary to be exposed to
hard concepts (1984, The Stranger, Woman at Point Zero)
It was sweet to build life-long
friendships with a group of awesome teenagers.
This list is not exhaustive, but I
am exhausted.
Thanks for the memories!
(And the ones to come, I’m
realizing that we still have more school)
(Which is a good thing)
(Right?)
Wow Avery, I'm pretty sure I just learned more about physiology and respiration than I actually learned in Bio! This post was so interesting and I loved how you described sitting deep in thought. Your "I was"' list was definitely relatable and it will definitely be the little moments that we will miss the most!
ReplyDeleteWell I am crying now....that is all...okay bye
ReplyDeleteJk I'm still here! but seriously this got me in the feels about high school being almost over with all those memories! But super cool post I loved that you did it in a poem, super creative and powerful!
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS WORLD WAR 3!!!!!!! (pictionary reference...also you lost and the chilis point counts)
ReplyDeleteI think this post speaks for how we are all so concerned with success that, even at times when we aren't supposed to, we think of IB and our learning.
ReplyDeleteAvery, from the few classes I've had with you, I know that you are passionate about learning and doing the absolute best you can in the classroom. But, where I've really been impressed with you is seeing you on stage (shocker). You're just one of those people who really belong on stage, in my opinion. I hope you find the same passion and support at Wake Forest as you did here in IB, and I'm looking forward to watching you on Broadway (unless that isn't your dream in which case I am sorry)
This poem is awesome, I don't know what you were talking about.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to have gotten to know you in high school and that we did IB together. I still remeber sitting with eachother the first week in the cafeteria. And I am glad that we could struggle through every spanish class together each year and that you're such a great and understanding friend.
AVE THE FAVE! This blog is the perfect balance of emotional and informative haha. You have the ability to achieve great things Avery McClure. You're a blessing.
ReplyDeleteAvery, I know we're not very close (although I've known you for almost eight years), but you should know that I think your words are beautiful. I always look out for and seek out your blog because you are an incredible writer, and this post was no exception. So thanks for feeding my literary-nerd spirit. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, while I'm sure you already know this, you're awesome and you're going to do incredible things. Never stop making people smile and never stop working hard. You rock!
Ave is my FOREVER fave. Seriously, this poem was absolutely beautiful and I expected nothing less from you. It has been so wonderful to share the stage and learn from such an incredible actor these past few years. Aside from theatre, you have been the most amazing role model and friend and I am so thankful for your presence in my life. I love you and all your crazy, shoeless, gymnast, rambo tie ways!
ReplyDelete