Before the winter break my room mate, Anthony, left a note in my cereal box:
Posted: January 25, 2012 Filed under: Photography, A Day in the Life of Common Strangers | Tags: love, Rudy, Pete, brotherhood, friendship, college, seventyseven, strangers, marc, Anthony Petrella, Pierre, room mate, white, black, bros 1 Comment »
Pete, We were supposed to go driving today… It has been snowing since 2:30 AM. Tho
ugh beautiful, even I would not drive today.
By the way it’s about 7:15 AM.
I spent my night in the kitchen watching the snowfall. I feel at peace here, alone with the ovens on and their doors open for heat. It’s so toasty. The sun is rising… cannot see it though… the sky is turning a pretty pink. It was beautiful transition, though… the snow I mean. At first… it didn’t stick… just covered the limp green in a hypothermic frost…man… I would hate to be the grass… then, the green turned to white. It was slow at first … but it caught on very quickly… then the roads… cars… buildings, until everything was white… Is White. Perfection.
The best part… footprints. Watching people walk to campus… leaving harsh black imperfections in the snow… only to see them covered with the forgiving and patient white snow. It’s as if… the endothermic reaction that occurred upon compression failed to blush the reputation of winters; a soft handed realization to an unyielding life. I hope to someday share such a transition with you.
All is white except the ground under the post… orange form the light above. One can sense the jealousy that quivers between the filament to filament; time-and-a-half pay to disrupt the process.
“Just stop trying. You’re embarrassing yourself… stop! PLEASE!”
But, boy… is it pretty. Street lamps turn off…one… by one…by one.
Lights, camera…action! Friday has begun.
I want you to take one thing home with you this holiday.
Can you do that? A piece of knowledge if you will.
You’re an inspiration and it’s an honor to know you. Just promise me one thing…
Promise me… you’ll never let the snow cover you up.
With more love than this world can count on,
Anthony Petrella.
P.S: You know they say that the people who stay friends forever meet in college?
You and me kiddo.
About A Year Ago…
Posted: July 19, 2011 Filed under: Editorial, Lifestyles | Tags: college, gold, grad, graduate, love, Pete, Rudy, Seven, seventy, Stranger, strangers Leave a comment »
A Stranger’s Freshmen Year
Posted: May 9, 2011 Filed under: A Day in the Life of Common Strangers, Photography | Tags: blogs, Buffalo, child, college, dante, family, friend, marcpierre, mother, petestrangers, seventyseven, strangers, University at Buffalo Leave a comment »It’s safe to say the curtain on my freshmen year in college has come to a close. In good faith, I can take a bow and know I did my best. Everyday in college has become somewhat of a milestone in my life and in my family. Being a first generation college student allows me to light a torch to pass on to the next in line for this path. My background has motivated every exam I’ve taken thus far along with every paper I have written.
Yes, I’m in college to make something of myself and to ease the burdens on my children and family. But I’m also in college to carry on the torch that was left dwindling by a mother who had to drop out in the eleventh grade to make sacrifices. I’m in college to be an example to a younger brother who may be motivated by my actions. I’m in college to prove daily to a long lost father that his son is doing mighty fine without his assistance.
I must not fail to mention I’ve come a long way, from thinking about going to the Navy to finishing my first year in college. Looking back, I laugh at how doubtful I was when I felt like I was sinking in quick stand. Now I write with my feet cemented in confidence. There is no one to thank but HE who is able to keep me from falling.
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy” -
Jude 1:24
A Retreat to Remember
Posted: January 17, 2011 Filed under: A Day in the Life of Common Strangers, Strangers Community | Tags: Buffalo, canvas, college, community, diversity, fredonia, IDC, intercultural, lead, leadership, listen, lodge, Pete, pictures, power, Rudy, seveny seven, strangers, suny, together, University at Buffalo 5 Comments »
I will assume that almost none of you know where Fredonia in Western New York is because I didn’t either before I embarked on an inspiring experience this weekend. While most of you were still enjoying the ending of your vacations I signed up for a retreat that would catapult me into the depths of Leadership and Diversity. I must say I was fully submerged in the sea that is knowledge, and am quite happy that no one tried to rescue this drowning stranger.
The weather was below 10 with the snow a little above the thighs of a midget. Here we were in a lodge about 32 strangers that were selected from a brief interview session that came together to devise this Social Honor Code for our University. I must say that it was mighty lovely to be surrounded with individuals who had a thirst for knowledge and change. It was beautiful to see people who attend my University, never once did I bump shoulders with them; but yet we all had this passion to appreciate Diversity, and understand and execute Leadership to its full capacity. I will not disclose all that we learned because it would be of no use to you. Instead I realize what I learn much be implemented through course of action.
I will say that the people that I met this weekend have become a circle of individuals whom I will never forget. In fact I’m in the process of searching for them on Facebook like some deranged lunatic. The retreat at this lodge was so stimulating for me because of several reasons. For one, the lodge had a beautiful fireplace that had me astonished. A true product of the city, the only place I remember seeing a fireplace was on cartoon series Courage the Cowardly Dog. No big deal to you perhaps, but every time some one was throwing wood to keep the fire dancing, there I was like a panting dog waiting for some Kibble N Bits (yes that serious). Moreover, the 32 individuals that I met came in all different shapes and colors. That lodge was a beautiful melting pot that was mustering up some fresh baked knowledge that we were all thankful for. To close I will say this: We came as strangers and left as friends.
The curse of F.R.I.E.N.D.S
Posted: November 6, 2010 Filed under: A Day in the Life of Common Strangers, Editorial | Tags: chickenspot, college, continents, curse, division, facebook, factions, friends, happiness, hardship, highschool, love, miss, pain, Pete, petestrangers, Rudy, rudystrangers, school, Seven, Seventy Seven, sisters, strangers, tears 3 Comments »A curse to my friends for their loyalty of friendship. For so many long years I still consider you folks more than just friends, more so family members. How dare you be so wonderful in all your ways? Together for years on out we ventured the world together on foot, skateboards, buses, cars of all sorts. We heard each other screams words of hate just to be followed by a simple apology or the notorious words “I love you.” We watched each other’s eyes becomes wet with sadness, fear, and happiness of all kinds. When times of doubt arrived, there were always the jokesters around to dilute the pain with pure laughter.
Rudy Strangers
Pete
Seventy Seven Strangers
Melrose Strangers
