I hate to bring everybody down, but I have a desperate need to unload.
Last Thursday, my mother called to tell me my aunt was loosing her battle with cancer. I was reflecting last night after the funeral, that if ever there was ever a true gentile lady, Aunt Betty was it. She was the most beautiful redhead I have ever known with one of those husky gravely voices that make you want to stop and listen when she spoke....just to hear her voice. I never heard her raise her voice in the many years I have known her nor speak an unkind word about anyone. Her daughter ran into difficult times about 15 years ago and Aunt Betty took on the care of the three girls and a boy, ages 10 to 2. They lived with her for 8-10 years...the youngest leaving her side only when the battle against the cancer began to take over her life. Up until that day, her house was the gathering place for all the neighborhood kids, and she loved every minute of it. Rest in peace Betty Rose!
Saturday, I received a call from a coworker that our eighth grade English teacher had died suddenly. Her funeral is tomorrow. That left me spinning. Aunt Betty's death was no surprise, and I was actually happy her fight was now over. This death was too sudden...leaving a school, both faculty and students devastated and asking, "Why?"
The most tragic of all, I learned of today. Any of you involved in the education field will relate to this one especially. Three years ago, I had a young boy that touched my life. He was a difficult student for the first half of the year, but one day, in a conference with he and his mom, I told him that I pushed him, only because I loved him and wanted him to succeed. Something happened that day. He made a complete turn around. His grades came up, he was no longer a discipline problem in class, and he would not hesitate to step up to any challenge I put before him. The end of that year was met with a long hard hug and a promise that he would never forget me or what I had done for him. He went on to be a success in seventh and eighth grade...not a straight A student, but hard working and respectful of his teachers. He was also a talented and promising baseball player. Every time I saw him, he would seek me out for a hug, a smile, and a moment to catch up on his life. As a matter of fact, just a month ago, he escorted one of our eighth graders to the Homecoming Basketball game. He made a point to find me, give me a hug, and catch up. He was so proud that he had made the varsity baseball team as a ninth grader.
That was the last time I saw him. I will not see him again. He was always a daredevil. While four wheeling at a sand pit (a place where a contractor digs for sand leaving large, very deep "ponds" of water). This is a popular place for the kids to ride their four wheelers because of the hills of sand, but is also a place where many will gather to swim in warm weather. I know, not a safe thing to do, but it has been done for years. Yesterday, four boys were out riding and decided to go for a swim, even after being warned that the water was too cold. One of the boys got in trouble and two others were helping him to shore, when "my boy" called out about a cramp. Before they could get to shore, they turned around and "my boy" was no where to be seen. He was the light of his parents' and grandparents' life...an only child (and I believe grandchild). What a tragic end to a promising young life! He was only 15. It doesn't really seem fair. The three boys that were with him will be changed for life. I have been told they are not handling it well. I can only hope this event will change their lives for the better. Two are still students at my school and visit my classroom often. I look forward to a hug from them soon.
Thanks for letting me unload. I feel better for it. Now to make it through the next few days. I don't usually do funerals, but will make an exception this time. The children at school are not handling either tragedy very well and many have stopped by my room for comfort and a hug throughout the day. It has been hard to smile and support them, but I managed to make it through the day. Tomorrow is a workday, so I hope to be able to recover from the shock before having to go back and paste on that smile and wipe their tears for the next few days.
Last Thursday, my mother called to tell me my aunt was loosing her battle with cancer. I was reflecting last night after the funeral, that if ever there was ever a true gentile lady, Aunt Betty was it. She was the most beautiful redhead I have ever known with one of those husky gravely voices that make you want to stop and listen when she spoke....just to hear her voice. I never heard her raise her voice in the many years I have known her nor speak an unkind word about anyone. Her daughter ran into difficult times about 15 years ago and Aunt Betty took on the care of the three girls and a boy, ages 10 to 2. They lived with her for 8-10 years...the youngest leaving her side only when the battle against the cancer began to take over her life. Up until that day, her house was the gathering place for all the neighborhood kids, and she loved every minute of it. Rest in peace Betty Rose!
Saturday, I received a call from a coworker that our eighth grade English teacher had died suddenly. Her funeral is tomorrow. That left me spinning. Aunt Betty's death was no surprise, and I was actually happy her fight was now over. This death was too sudden...leaving a school, both faculty and students devastated and asking, "Why?"
The most tragic of all, I learned of today. Any of you involved in the education field will relate to this one especially. Three years ago, I had a young boy that touched my life. He was a difficult student for the first half of the year, but one day, in a conference with he and his mom, I told him that I pushed him, only because I loved him and wanted him to succeed. Something happened that day. He made a complete turn around. His grades came up, he was no longer a discipline problem in class, and he would not hesitate to step up to any challenge I put before him. The end of that year was met with a long hard hug and a promise that he would never forget me or what I had done for him. He went on to be a success in seventh and eighth grade...not a straight A student, but hard working and respectful of his teachers. He was also a talented and promising baseball player. Every time I saw him, he would seek me out for a hug, a smile, and a moment to catch up on his life. As a matter of fact, just a month ago, he escorted one of our eighth graders to the Homecoming Basketball game. He made a point to find me, give me a hug, and catch up. He was so proud that he had made the varsity baseball team as a ninth grader.
That was the last time I saw him. I will not see him again. He was always a daredevil. While four wheeling at a sand pit (a place where a contractor digs for sand leaving large, very deep "ponds" of water). This is a popular place for the kids to ride their four wheelers because of the hills of sand, but is also a place where many will gather to swim in warm weather. I know, not a safe thing to do, but it has been done for years. Yesterday, four boys were out riding and decided to go for a swim, even after being warned that the water was too cold. One of the boys got in trouble and two others were helping him to shore, when "my boy" called out about a cramp. Before they could get to shore, they turned around and "my boy" was no where to be seen. He was the light of his parents' and grandparents' life...an only child (and I believe grandchild). What a tragic end to a promising young life! He was only 15. It doesn't really seem fair. The three boys that were with him will be changed for life. I have been told they are not handling it well. I can only hope this event will change their lives for the better. Two are still students at my school and visit my classroom often. I look forward to a hug from them soon.
Thanks for letting me unload. I feel better for it. Now to make it through the next few days. I don't usually do funerals, but will make an exception this time. The children at school are not handling either tragedy very well and many have stopped by my room for comfort and a hug throughout the day. It has been hard to smile and support them, but I managed to make it through the day. Tomorrow is a workday, so I hope to be able to recover from the shock before having to go back and paste on that smile and wipe their tears for the next few days.
Daphne
Keep your mind wide open.
Keep your mind wide open.