It's the Little Things

Yesterday I wrote about how I was going out to my old school and helping one of the fourth grade teachers.  Well, today was my regular day to volunteer.  I walked in and a little girl said...

But first, last go back a few years at Christmastime. For my Christmas present that year, Danny gave me a  lovely string of pearls with matching earrings.  I LLLOOOVVVEE them. Anytime I leave the house I wear my pearls.  My pearls have visited the grocery store, Home Depot, and church.  So, of course, I wore them to the school when I went to help.

So back to the current story.  As I walked in, a little girl ran up to me with something in her hand. This was a student that I had helped  with addition the day before.  She asked if "they were like mine."  I looked down. She had a dime store version of my necklace in her hand.  She wanted to wear a string of pearls like I wore.

That was a sobering moment.  At this point, the putting on of my pearls is automatic.   I don't give it much thought.  When preparing to leave the house, I change my clothes, comb my hair, and put on my jewelry, including my pearls.  No thought. 

But this seemingly small thing seemed to make a impression on this little girl.  She wanted to emulate me. 

Scary.

If the little ones are watching inconsequential things like jewelry they are also watching how the big people in their lives act.  How they act when someone cuts them off in traffic.  When the clerk has trouble with the cash register.  Or when that same clerk gives them too much change.

They are watching.

All the time.

The Kids Remain the Same

Over two decades ago, I decided that I wanted to do something to change the future. I knew I would never probably find a cure for ANY disease.  I never would be an elected official that would change laws.  I seriously doubted that I would head some big philanthropic group that would give millions to the needy.

But I could teach.

So I returned to school and acquired my degree in Elementary Education and, with my brand new degree in hand, starting teaching.


And I felt I was making a difference.  I was teaching small children to read and putting the hope of higher education in older students minds.  I was opening their minds to how much plain FUN science and mathematics can be.

And then No Child Left Behind hit the scene.

And the fun stopped.

Suddenly the art of teaching was overshadowed by the science. Time was spent on testing and testing and testing.  There wasn't time for opening minds.  No time to talk about higher education.  No time for the fun in science and mathematics.

So I retired.

But recently I have been helping a fourth grade teacher at my old school with some of her students that need just a little extra help.

And guess what?

I have discovered the fun in teaching and I am loving it.

It is the kids.


 

Weekend Round Up

This last weekend was a whirl of activity around the ole' Champion homestead!

On Friday night, Danny and I did some shopping for him, an activity that he would rather have a root canal than do.  If he would just resign himself to the fact that he is my great big Ken doll and just roll with it, the whole process would be much easier.  But no, he always looks likes he is looking into the veritable gates of hell when we arrive at a mall. But we did manage to acquire a new Hawaiian shirt, running shorts, and vitamins with no casualties.

After shopping we went and ate a bite of Mexican food.  There is nothing better than Mexican food in the Mesilla Valley.   Add a little Hatch green chili to it and it is the same as manna from heaven.

Saturday, Danny rode his bike for thirty something miles and I sat in my newly refrigerated air conditioned house and read The Help.  I had been saving reading the book to read until we had seen the movie.  I am always disappointed in movies if I read the book first so I purposely delayed my reading.

And just let me say, it was worth the wait.

I then made Danny he traditional Saturday night pepperoni pizza but this time I added some of that fresh Hatch chili.  I was grocery shopping and the smell of roasting chili reached my nose.

Danny and I won't use the huge gunny sacks full of chili but this particular store is aware of two member families like ours.  They had small bags already roasted so I purchased one and added it to Danny's pizza.  He loved it.

Sunday we went to church and the potluck after services. Chicken, casseroles, and desserts to die for. Just let me say that there is nothing better than dishes prepared by Christian women!  Can I get an amen?

Sunday evening we went out with friends to celebrate one of the group's birthday.  Laughter and good food are always fun. Danny and I laughed and celebrated but had to pass on the movie after dinner.  Memaw and Pepaw had to drive their Hover Rounds home and go to bed early.  You know how when you get older you need more sleep.

And after that boring recitation of the activities of two over 50 year olds, you are probably so bored you are looking for a pillow, blankie, and a quiet place to sleep.

Daddy's Girl

He picks up the paintbrush and with one, quick swipe draws a smiley face and writes PAM on the dining room wall.  I remember clapping my hands with delight.  He, of course, painted over it and continue to complete the task of painting the dining room.  The artwork is gone but the memory remains forever.

About the same time, he was sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands softly weeping.  We had a boxer dog named Butch that had a bad habit of sitting under our vehicle.  He had backed out on his way to work and accidentally ran over Butch. 

I was hiding in my parents' bedroom.  I was, no matter what, supposed to stay in there.  I, of course, cracked the door open and peeked out.  He was carrying my Christmas present table and chairs while saying, "Ho! Ho! Ho!"

The note was on the kitchen table.  All it said was, "Go get your Pinto."  And that was it.  I had my first new car.  A Grabber Blue Pinto.

He looked uncomfortable in the rented tux but he took my arm and walked me down the aisle to that incredibly young man who wanted me for his wife.

He got in the car and drove two days into a part of the country he had never seen to see that first and, as it turned out, only granddaughter.

And, two decades later, he drove out again to see her get married.

And that  man is my Daddy.

Happy Birthday, Daddy

  And, yes, there are tears in my eyes as I write this.

Morning Girl? Not Exactly.

When someone calls me in the morning to ask me to go somewhere, let's say shopping, I always tell them that I will need at least 30 minutes to get ready because my morning look is not exactly good. 

In fact, when Baby Susan and Joshua were staying with us for a few months, Joshua likened my morning look to Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons.  In case you are not familiar with these particular cartoon character her is a little refresher.

I think, perhaps, my son-in-law exaggerates just a little but there is a distinct resemblance.  I have a habit of burrowing in my pillow like a little groundhog that makes my hair stand up on end when I get up. But I do think my morning facial expression is much more pleasant.

And I have delighted in sharing this comparison with others because it was both humorous and slightly accurate.

But recently i think I have a more accurate portrayal of my morning ritual.

Or perhaps this one looks more like Danny.  You decide.

I AM One Cool Cat

For those who read my blog who do not live in the southwest may not know what a evaporative cooler is, here is a very simplified version.

Do you get the picture?  (pun not intended)  It is essentially a fan blowing over water.

And that is what has been cooling my house for over 30 years. Memaw is not happy.

So today there are men all over my house hammering, nailing, and do who knows what so that I can have refrigerated air in my house.

So that I can look less like this...

And more like this...

Looks just like me doesn't it?

UPDATE: It's now 4:30 and the guys have left and my air conditioner is now working.  Look at the thermostat at the room temperature when the unit was turned on.

Yep, after an afternoon without any sort of cooling my house was 89 degrees!
That's why we needed refrigerated air!

Some Things Never Change

So this week classes started at New Mexico State University.  Our house is within spitting distance of the campus so I have seen the fresh-faced students running around town.  And seeing all those new students reminded me of when Danny and I were college students.


Way back in the 70's, when Danny and I were on the Murray State University campus, we would sit around in our bell bottoms, long hair, sideburns and mustaches (well, Danny had the sideburns and mustache, not me)  after a long day of studying and talk about how wonderful life would be after we graduated and went on to our "real" life.  We would have so much more time, what with no studying, research papers, classes, etc.  We would just go to work, which would take about the same amount of time as going to class, and then our evenings would be ours.  It was going to be great.

And we graduated.  We got jobs.  We had a kid.  We had to take care of a home.  We had bills. Responsibilities. Suddenly studying, research papers, and classes didn't look so bad.

But one thing that has been consistent since our college days.

Danny and I like to fight.