There's something horribly fascinating about watching someone have a complete and total melt down. It's like I just can't turn away. One of my colleagues really melted down today at lunch. He just... came apart at the seams and ranted and raved. We found out this morning that the teacher that got fired unfairly has had her teaching credentials/license yanked by the state based on the fact that she was fired by the school board. Not based on why she was fired, just that she was fired. Don't get me wrong--every one of us is outraged.
But this was the straw that broke the camel's back for my colleague. I watched in fascinated horror as his face got redder and redder and his breathing became more shallow. He was huffing and puffing during his rant. He went off about injustice--mentioning the McCarthy Era, the Salem witch trials, blacklisting and the Hollywood Ten, as well as every in-between injustice. (I'm surprised he didn't mention Saco & Vanzetti)
That was actually the second melt down I watched today. I almost forgot about the girl who dissolved in tears of frustration in the hallway. She needed someone to vent to and it happened to be my planning period so she did come in and talk. Her dad is stupid. Yeah, that's basically the end result for her.
2 comments:
You got me wondering what I looked like when I had a total meltdown a little over a year ago. I know I was shaking so hard I could no longer stand and I was so upset I had trouble speaking. Fortunately, I was with some supportive folks who were shocked at what had happened & who helped me calm down & figure out a solution. I'm hoping the girl you helped is able to come to peace with her situation - and I wonder what she would have done without you.
This post makes me think of my oldest friend who, between spring and today, has just retreated deeper and deeper into her own little world. Her behavior has become gradually more selfish and bizarre, and both my best friend and my shrink have independently accused me of not understanding just how wacky my oldest friend is becoming. "Bordering on delusional," etc. I hear them and I understand the words, but no, I do not accept that she is so messed up she's out of my reach. So I wonder if I wouldn't just dismiss the meltdown you witnessed as "a mood" or something. I seem to have a hard time differentiating between "normal" and "over the line."
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