Condolences From Peter Taormina

I have been thinking so much about Corey..and all of you guyz. This is the hardest loss for me in some time. I can feel the subtle undercurrent at school just below the surface. I know it's wierd that this whole thing happened at the beginning of vacation - it sort of changed the way we all are mourning Corey - but it hasn't made it any less meaningful at least to me. I think alot of how Corey was this person who could always make me smile and how he never said negative things about anyone else - how amazing is that! I can remember so many times Corey and I would just start doing accents or making up songs or rhymes...anywhere. I loved it when he came into lunch and helped me sing happy birthday or write a rhyme or song for the announcements. He was so incredibly spontaneous and funny. It was cool the way he could be that and yet do everything else and be taken seriously when he needed to be. I look at his picture and I just can't wrap my head around him being gone - that's why he keeps coming into my thoughts... That and the people - all of the people at school but especially certain kids of course - those of you who loved Corey as I did and who feel this pain. I guess I think about how we all change in the face of tragedy and how it makes us grow - I want to be more "there" for people...It sounds corny, but I mean it. I get so much from spending time with kids - you guys all make me grow in my perspective of this life and the depth and importance of relationships. There are so many great people at Colonie - I think it's easy to be critical of people and think in stereotypical ways, but when this kind of thing happens we need to look around and really search for the good in each other, really listen to each other and allow ourselves to empathize with the pain we feel for so many different reasons. We need to let each other go to this place of sadness sometimes and support each other. I am amazed by the insightful comments of people and by the incredible maturity and empathy present at Corey's service - so many of you were able to see what you needed to do to help each other and to help Corey's family - it just makes me that much more confident in all of you. Loss is the hardest thing we experience in life and when we feel the support of others during these difficult times we grow....I am so thankful for the time I got with Corey and for the time that I continue to have with all of you... thanks for putting this spot out here to write - I probably will be back...

Mr. T