Dear Reader:

I remember being asked, on several occasions, in different educational collegiate classes, to name the teacher who had the most positive influence on me going through school. I always wrote down the same name -Mrs. Williams, my fifth grade teacher, who took a timid, shy, introverted little girl and transformed her into the personality I am today-happy, fairly confident, and so grateful for every day that comes my way.

Only one time during all those teacher training classes did one professor ask us to select the teacher in our past we would never want to emulate and why?

That was my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Persons, who I honestly can say simply didn’t like children-how she ended up in the classroom is probably a long story… but she was miserable being there and spread that misery throughout the classroom.

She sighed audibly if a student asked a question and hated any kind of noise… she had zero patience and was the ” worksheet queen ” of the fourth grade. We had to work silently, read silently and even whisper the Pledge of Allegiance.

Yet … she probably did more for me in knowing what kind of teacher I would never be …or would never subject my students to …than the positive role models.

Last week , Lynn Gamache, my Canadian blog post buddy, writer, and fellow breast cancer thriver, saw an article called ” Bits and Pieces” and thought I might like to share some thoughts with it.

I love this particular excerpt ( final stanzas) about the ” planned” rendezvouses we have with both positive and negative people who help mold us throughout our lives.

… ” You find you are made up of ” bits and pieces” of all who have ever touched your life. You are more because of it and you would be less if they had not touched you.

Pray to God that you accept the “bits and pieces ” in humility and wonder… and never question and never regret.

…Believe in God’s master plan in life. He moves people in and out of each others’ lives and each leaves his mark on the other.”

So until tomorrow… Isn’t it nice when we have enough ” past” in our lives to be able to remember and now understand why some of our more difficult fellow life travelers were there just for a ” cameo ” to steer us in a different direction

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

When Ukrainian President, Zelensky, was elected in 2019… his acceptance speech included this prophetic line.

” It’s a victory when the weapons fall silent and people speak up!”

It’s our turn to speak up- teachers and parents and grandparents alike-teach children what a democracy is at their age level and have the school children show their support for Ukraine and all countries fighting tyrants and tyranny.

I am ordering stickers for the grandchildren to put on their notebooks and lawn/garden signs… signing petitions, writing letters…our voices need to be heard!

I loved it when I passed a house yesterday decorated in blue and yellow-like this one on Main Street in Summerville!

Until my flags arrive … I worked on a make shift flower arrangement to remember Ukraine at every meal!