Story Library

Teacher Krista

Backstory

We were all enthralled when Krista shared her adventures as a new teacher. Her biggest memory of her young students – They always had sticky hands! Besides the jokes and cute stories, a very distinct edge could be seen. Here was a young woman who was going to make a difference in the lives of the students she taught. May I share with you, the story of who inspired her.

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Teacher Krista – #653

Today our story is about a young teacher, on the last day of her first teaching assignment. I sincerely hope that her words bring back memories for you, of a beloved teacher somewhere in your past.

Krista wrote – “Today felt a lot like the last day of seventh grade. Only this time, I got to be on the teacher end.

“In seventh grade, my teacher, Mr. Heitmann, created a classroom community that I never wanted to leave. I always hoped that one day I would be able to do that for my students.

Today, between their tears and mine,I realized that I do have the ability to create that classroom community. It’s within my power to do so.”

Krista went on to describe her emotional exit and the goodbyes and selfies; the promises to be good, to be smart, to be special. You could just see the little children gathered about, reaching out for a last touch or hug or whisper, promising to remember always.

Krista concluded her story by sharing, “I left my students with a quote of Mr. Heitmann. It’s what he said to my seventh grade class, some ten years ago –

‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.’ “

Thank goodness the world has teachers like Mr. Heitmann, and now, Miz Krista.

P.S.

Krista will leave soon to teach in another land across the sea. How fortunate are the students who will be touched by her and inspired by her words and her example. The world needs all the Kristas it can get.

[Show #653]

Losing a Friend

Backstory

I was a busy young executive working my way up the ladder. Landed a VP job in Washington, DC and I was on my way! Needed some help though; someone stable in the office to keep things moving and wrap them in a bow at the end. Someone who could keep pace with my busy schedule and keep me pointed in the right direction. Someone who would prevent me from being swept away with too many priorities or my own ego. Turns out she was just the one to do that.

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Losing a Friend – #649

We had worked together, years and year ago. When I left our mutual employment, we maintained the friendship from a distance. We’d catch up, a couple of times a year and it was like we had talked just the day before.

So her call today was most welcome. But her voice, somehow, was different. Just as joyful, but somehow serious as well.

“I am dying,” she told me. Matter of factly, straight forward. No embellishment. A simple statement.

I knew she was battling one of those unfair and deadly diseases. But they had kept it at bay; until now.

“I’m not afraid,” she told me. “I’ve done right during my life, I know the Lord, and I am ready”. She was headed to hospice.

My first thought was that I had to go and see her. Then I thought better of it.

We had not been in the same room together in 32 years. I had an image of this tiny, exuberant blonde lady with the beautiful blue eyes.

The right direction now was to let us both keep our images of our young and eager selves.

There are lots more phone calls. They get more difficult as the days roll by. She has less stamina and coherence. But here we are together, keeping our friendship fresh and bright, right to the last day.

On one phone call, when we say goodbye, it will be goodbye for good.

P.S.

It happened today. Something occurred and my first thought was that i had to share it with my phone friend. She would understand and laugh with me. Oh yes, I remembered, she can’t do that anymore. She is all bundled up in my warm memories of the time we shared, and I can still imagine her laughing with me. So I shared the incident with her anyway, silently, and laughed out loud, for both of us.

[Show #649]

Sharing Something of Value

Backstory

Someone shared the Chinese proverb with me. I have always found wisdom in words from the orient. Is it because they are exotic? Or simply bubbling with insight? In any case, I started thinking about what kinds of things have value to others, to me. This story came from those musings.

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Sharing Something of Value – #450

The Chinese have a saying – “When someone shares with you something of value, you have an obligation to share it with others.” You could apply that to many things – knowledge, money, gratitude, even smiles.

Imagine considering it an obligation to smile at someone else, every time someone smiles at you. The question is whether a smile is something of value. What do you think?

I remember hearing that a smile is an instant face lift. And indeed, a smiling face is so much more attractive than one with a frown drawn on it.

Watch attractive elderly women. They know the secret of the face-lifting smile. You will rarely see them without a smile on their lips. And you can’t help thinking how lovely they are.

What else do you receive of value that should be shared?

We Americans are generous with sharing our wealth; from donations to the Red Cross and Salvation Army, to funding of Wounded Warrior to individual help provided anonymously when we hear there is a need. To those who receive much, much is expected.

We seem to have learned the Chinese lesson well, although it never hurts to be reminded.

P.S.

Different times form different values. Living through the depression as a young adult, my grandmother found value in making things last. Even when times changed for the better, she continued to save string in a ball. Her notes were written on the backs of used envelopes. Drippings from this morning’s bacon fried green tomatoes for dinner. Sure is different from today’s use-and-discard approach.

[Show #450]

Toy Library

Backstory

I could hardly walk through the room, for all the toys spread around. Looking at the broken plastic pieces, I could just imagine how much all this cost. But there was so much; it was overpowering. How best to organize toys and help children to appreciate them? We explore all that in this week’s story.

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Toy Library – #346

Have you ever counted the toys your kids have? A well-known parenting guru suggests that the overabundance of toys possessed by kids today is not a blessing. He claims that an average American child has 150 toys. Think what that means in a family with 3 or 4 kids.

Overstimulation from the media, video games and noisy toys are creating chaos. The way out is to weed out your kids’ stuff.

Reduce the chaos and introduce calm. Give away outgrown toys: discard broken ones and pack a lot of the rest away.

There are coaches who get paid to come into a home and reduce the abundance. They remove as much as 75% of the children’s clothes and toys. You can do the same thing. That will reduce the clutter.

Then introduce the calm. Set up a schedule for watching TV or playing video games, rather than having both run 24/7 at will. Get rid of noisy, flashing toys. They actually do the playing for the child. Instead, provide toys that challenge the child’s imagination.

Create a veritable library of toys, to be checked out, played with In those periods of calm you created, and returned. Sounds like quite an improvement.

P.S.

Toys Are Us just went out of business. One analyst said it was because kids would rather watch a YouTube video of kids playing, than play themselves. Playing is how we learned to imagine: how we learned to treat others; how we learned about the consequences of making a bad decision. How shall we replace those experiences in today’s world of busy thumbs and digital screens?

[Show #346]

Married

Backstory

“You’ve got to write about it,” said one listener. “I’ll be watching for the story,” said another. So now that the decisiveness of marriage has sunk in, I decided to fill the requests and tell you how the man finally got me to the altar, after eight years of keeping him waiting. It is this week’s story.

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Married – #640

In a recent story, I told how my friend Joan had encouraged me to let Bill put a ring on it. I was hesitant and she pointed out that time was passing and each day was one we could have enjoyed as husband and wife. She said, “You don’t want to run out of time!”

She was right, so I said to Bill, “About getting married, you want to do it now?” Like in time travelers, we were suddenly signing papers at the courthouse.

I called Joan and said, “On Friday, are you willing to drop everything and come be a witness at our wedding?”

She agreed in half a second. So did three other dear friends and there we were in front of an officiant, in the presence of God, saying our home made vows.

Bill was asked, “Do you take Annette . . .” and he responded with a really fast “yes,” before hearing the rest of the question. He was oh so ready to be a husband.

It was joyous, it was simple, it was fast and it was meant to be. Our home is full of love and each day is precious. And it happened because my friend Joan took the initiative to encourage us to see what was right before our eyes.

We should all be thankful for friends whose advice and guidance help us make better decisions in life.

P.S.

It was never that I didn’t want to be married. It’s just that everything was going along just fine. We had eight years with nary a bad day. There did not seem to be any need for improvement. But when I see the joy in his eyes when he calls me his wife. . . when I feel his sense of protection as my husband . . . Oh yes, this wedding was a good idea, Joan.

[Show #640]

Change

Backstory

It seemed to be taking place all around me. Kids moving back with their parents . . . mother carried off to a nursing home . . . a widow heading west . . . a bachelor heading east. . . a classmate moving to Ireland. . . someone asking about moving in here. Lives used to be all neat and tidy – and suddenly everything is changing. It motivated me to write this story.

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Change – #345

We have several friends who have had to change their living location in the last year. It’s been such an experience, to see how they acclimated to their new environment.

One elderly gentleman decided his home on the mountain was just too much responsibility. He listed out the tasks that needed to be done to live in his house. He decided that most of them, he no longer enjoyed doing.

He carefully reviewed assisted living facilities, went to visit several, decided on one and moved in. He now lives in the nursing home portion, quiet and content. He can do for himself all that his efficient new setting requires.

He still enjoys all the daily activities he liked, such as dining with friends, reading the newspaper, playing cards and watching sports. He says he brought the best of his world with him and left behind the things he had outgrown.

Another friend retired and moved across the country to be near her only daughter. But daughter has a career and a life and little time to spend with mom. My friend wound up moving back and even getting her old job back. Retirement did not suit her nearly as much as a busy workday.

She prospered in a setting where she had respect and appreciation.

I’ve learned from these friends – not to be afraid to change things…

And not to be afraid to go back, if it doesn’t work out.

P.S.

I started analyzing all the options open for when it’s my turn to change. Guess what? Can’t do it. Somehow I have not found the crystal ball that tells me what will be needed by me or my loved ones or those around me. I can’t begin to guess what it will cost and whether there will be bingo or pot parties or midnight skinny dipping. So, just like the rest of us, I will wait and try to make good decisions while the universe determines my future. I just hope it does it with panache.

[Show #345]

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