SOLC17 18/31 Thanks for the March Slice of Life challenge with the Two Writing Teachers community for Day Eighteen of Thirty-One. Thank you, Stacey, Beth, Deb, Betsy, Lanny, Kathleen, Lisa, and Melanie. Today I also celebrate with Ruth Ayres and others at Discover Play Build. It's a good way to end the week sharing our celebrations.
It's not always easy to choose just what I want to share in celebrations. I admit that this week I took no sky pictures, but the sky looked beautiful, cloudless or clouds, still sunshine and gorgeous.
Here are a few pics that show some good things my days held this week, and one story without a picture.
I'm in touch with some former students, most on Instagram and Facebook. Most are in college or older. One works with my son-in-law! Some are married, some are parents already, and for a few I'm also in touch via social media with their parents. One day at the bookstore, a former parent came in and I think we both were shocked to see each other. I hadn't seen this parent for years, but when I taught, his son had come back to see me a few times.
This past Thursday, the father called to see if I was at the store. They live just a few blocks away. His son was visiting, and then came over to visit. It was a wonderful visit, talking old times, and now new times. This is one of my first students, one I had for three years! He was in the first group of students I took to Mexico, and we had fun talking about that amazing trip. We drove and camped all the way. But that's another story. This student is now a doctor, has two children my granddaughters' ages, and as we talked, we discovered that there is a connection between his wife and my daughter. What a small world it is. And how wonderful to see and get to know this nice man whom I knew as a young boy so long ago. I celebrate this used-to-be student and a new connection with him.
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| one sketch from working in the garden |
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| one calendar page I keep forgetting to notice |
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| one tiny crocus peeking up in the garden |
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| one full "worm" moon |
So many connections to celebrate . . . your joint past, the ages of his children, and between his wife and your daughter. The world is within our grasp! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful reunion, Fran. Yes, the connections we don't know until we share are surprising!
DeleteNothing is better than chatting with a former student! So glad you had this time at the bookstore. (Beats those quick grocery store chats.) Love the crocus pic and the calendar page too. You've reminded me that I have a calendar page to share, may make it a slice for this upcoming week. Happy weekend, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ramona. March is so busy that I really hadn't taken the time to look and "see" that March message.And, it was lots of fun to see my student now all grown up!
DeleteOh, I love the story. How wonderful to connect with again and hear where his life has taken him. It must bring back so many memories. Thank you for sharing all your celebrations and for reminding us that we should be living in such a way that it is difficult to choose what to share each week.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Clare
You're welcome, Clare, the week was full indeed!
DeleteNoticing and celebrating makes your days rich. And the surprise visit- that is a celebration to keep you smiling a long time!
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. It was a wonderful surprise!
DeleteLinda, you captured life in photos. I loved each one, especially the crocus announcing its entrance into life. Unfortunately, the ground is so frozen here that there are no buds. You can celebrate the awakening of the ground for me. http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2017/03/march-musings-18-celebrate-your-life.html
ReplyDeleteI just visited you, too! Serendipity! Our ground is waking up, but we could still get a big snow, weird weather here! But I'm out in the garden, cleaning up and discovering! Thanks, Carol!
DeleteI have connected with former students on Facebook. One student sent me the sweetest message about the difference I made in her life, and this was when I was such a young novice. It's wonderful to reconnect with students. I love your "one" theme for today.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margaret. I love being in touch with former students and their parents, too.
DeleteWhen I learn of these connections, I often wonder what connections were missed? I love it when the world shrinks just a bit and we get to see how we are all connected.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, too, Elsie. When we moved to Colorado and that first neighborhood, it was several years before we realized that an old Scout friend of Arvie's was there, too. I guess that the nice part of social media. Sometimes we can discover new people that way.
DeleteI am so thankful for conversations with past students. I snap photos are all week on my phone it's fun fun to look back over my week and celebrate.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite amazing to see students as older adults, isn't it? And I think about what I'm noticing too, Maria. It's like a nice thing found (or more) every day.
DeleteLovely encounter. Seeing students as adults shows the passing of time that we hardly ever feel in ourselves. It continues to amaze me how small the world is.
ReplyDeleteYes, it seems small, I agree. I am often surprised how many people I know and run into at the grocery! This was a great visit..
DeleteSo often we don't know of the impact we have had on someone until a connection is made at some future date. We don't teach for the glory of the moment but for the impact on the future.
ReplyDeleteYes, you've said it beautifully, Bob. Thanks!
DeleteThis is such a fantastic story of your visit with a previous student. Just makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carrie, much fun to get together.
DeleteLove the story of connecting with your student again. The world gives us much to celebrate!
ReplyDeleteYes, it does. Thanks, Rose.
DeleteI loved the worm moon this week, too! What a lovely story you shared - how incredibly sweet that your former student's parent called to check if you were still at the bookstore and then came by! It is exciting to see how our students have matured and how fun to find all the 'small world' connections.
ReplyDeleteThis was a best thing this week. I loved seeing my former student again. Thanks, Maureen.
DeleteLove your connections here, Linda! I love seeing former students and getting to talk to them at literally a whole new level (they are always taller than they were in first grade!)
ReplyDeleteYou know I taught first grade when I started teaching. I may never connect with those students. They would be in their fifties now! I still remember most of them, those sweet kids! Thanks, Donna.
DeleteWhat a lovely mix of celebrations Linda. You notice and celebrate the important things, even the things you forget to notice. Thank you for helping me notice...Full Worm Moon! I must pay more attention.
ReplyDeleteI "caught" that moon while out for an evening walk. It's been so, so warm that evening is now the good time! Thanks, Julieanne, may you notice more this coming week!
DeleteI love the time you take in all your interactions, both noticing, having those conversations, and sharing. Beautiful pictures to accompany them as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melanie, having the smart phone makes it easy to grab those pictures.
DeleteHow wonderful that your teaching days are coming to a full circle this way. You are getting to see the trees grown from your classroom planting!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice way to think about it, Chris. This student also is in touch with a few others so I got to hear about them, too, and that was great.
DeleteYour sketch is lovely as is the reminiscing of former students.
ReplyDeletehttps://wordsmithing2017.wordpress.com
Thanks, Heidi.
DeleteIt IS a small, small world! What a fun discovery for you both.
ReplyDeleteYes! It was a lovely visit. Thanks, Jennifer.
DeleteHow have I missed that you work at a bookstore? How satisfying to know that whatever else may happen, you have done good in the world, left a lasting mark on one representative of many.
ReplyDeleteIt's a local used bookstore, Heidi, that is run by volunteers only. I started there after I retired from teaching. Thank you!
DeleteWonderful story, especially special to teacher hearts. I love your photos, especially your sketch. Have a blessed week, Linda.
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