Uncle Fermor

On April 6, 2012
my father's beloved older brother
Fermor Robinson Hargrove, Jr.
slipped away from this earth and flew
to heaven where he joined his sweet wife Mattie Beall, his baby boy Robbie and his daughter Sue.

Uncle Fermor was one of those people that others loved to be around. No one is happy all the time but I cannot recall a time when I saw my Uncle frown.

He wore a string tie everyday, drove up until a few months ago
and had an amazing memory. In fact, he had a better memory
than most people I know!  

While Uncle Fermor certainly had his share of life's tragedies
you were guaranteed a smile and a hug anytime you were in his
presence.

He buried a baby boy and a daughter.
Both taken suddenly and far, far too soon.
He also buried a wife he loved very much.

In the eulogy my daddy gave this afternoon he said that
he had seen his brother beat up by life a few times but
he had never ever seen him bitter.

That is a trait we should all aspire to emulate.
This afternoon my daddy stood in one of many pulpits
he has stood in and spoke as he has so many times before.
We southerners call it preaching a funeral.

This must have been one of the hardest funerals he has
taken part in but he paid great homage to his brother.

I know that all of my daddy's children were proud of the
strength and courage he exhibited today.

Daddy spoke of love and loss and hope.
He spoke of the peace and the eternal life we
are promised.

He spoke of the love and friendship
shared by two brothers.

He spoke of a man who will be missed by so many.


Just sayin'......................

You Might Be A Teacher If.........

One lesson I have learned while spending most of my time
hanging out with five year olds is that sometimes it is best for
the teacher to face some issues (pun intended) openly and honestly.

Sometimes those who live mostly in the world of adults
and politeness
and good manners
are very surprised at what some of our classroom
discussions might include.

You might be a teacher if
you can say any of the following without flinching.

Everybody passes gas.

Passing gas means......um.......poot.

Yes, lots of people do say fart at home but at school we try to remember to say pass gas.

I did not just say a cuss word I just said an impolite word.

We don't have to scream or act crazy every time someone passes gas.

We are not going to argue about who just passed gas.

We do not yell out DANG! when one of our friends passes gas.

I am NOT laughing because someone passed gas I just have a tickle in my throat.

Please do not say ewwwww and try to change seats with someone else during group time.

Yes, I know something smells bad. Let's keep reading.

And finally, when the situation is unbearable....
Okay, whoever is passing gas needs to go to the restroom.
As a matter of fact, let's all go.


It's a smelly job
But it's still the best job in the world.



Just saying'...........

About the Dream I Dreamed Last Night

Last week a student asked me if I had a mama.

Yes, I do, I answered. But she lives in heaven now.

Oh, and you're sad?

Yeah. When I miss her, I'm sad.

Oh, she said.

And when she leaned her head against mine
it was as soothing as cool water on a burn.

We stayed that way, her head against mine and her little
hands patting my back in silent sympathy until
she darted off to finish an activity.

I think my mom sent her to love on me.

I dreamt of my mother last night.
She came to me in my dream but I left
before finding out why she was there.

She walked in as I was changing clothes
in a room that was dim and crowded.

I was glad to see her but admonished her
for carrying a heavy laundry basket.

Mama, give me that, I ordered. You know
I dont want you carrying anything that heavy.
Sit here. How are you? I asked.

I'm okay, she answered.
But her voice was tired and in my dream
I was worried.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

Then I woke.
Gasping. Sweating.
Immediately sorry.
Sorry for leaving
my dream too soon

I miss her so.
I am still not ready to be a child without a mama.
Sort of a half orphan.

With her, I could be a child again if I needed to.

Her child.

She would listen to me alot, advise me just a little 
and then she would pat me on the butt
and send me back out into the world again
a little stronger.

That's what mamas do, you see.
They help us grow up.

Sometimes with kind words.
Sometimes with a swat on our rear ends.
But in their hearts
we remain their babies.

I just miss being her baby.


Just sayin'...............................

Beware the Teacher With Hot Flashes

He said, "I'm tryin' to do my mornin' work but it's a little cold in here!"

Sometimes

Sometimes heroes come in small packages

Sometimes a kindergarten teacher may be a little squeamish about smushing bugs.

 
Sometimes the thought of the crunchiness and the guts will make a kindergarten teacher unwilling to step on the half-dollar sized spider.

Sometimes a very wise kindergarten teacher will cheerfully yell, “Who wants to come squash this big, fat brown spider?”

Always, an eager little hero will rush forward.

Sometimes that hero will be a  girl whose red hair is gilded with gold.

And sometimes that sweet, innocent, beautiful child will turn into a ninja and grind that hairy spider into the carpet with her sparkly, pink light up tennis shoes.

And then she will check the bottom of her shoe for guts and walk demurely back to her place in line.

And ALWAYS, the teacher will struggle to keep a straight face while thanking her little hero!

Home Sweet Home

Today is the last day of my Winter Break.
My car has been parked in the same spot for five wonderful days!

I am convinced that I could stay home for weeks at a time.
All I need is someone to bring me groceries.
I absolutely love this house and I absolutely love being here.

Something very strange has happened during these sweet, quiet days.
I have no explanation for it and I know that it will cause great concern to all who know me well.

I have risen early...well early-ish every day.  Without giving away the exact time lets just say I've been up and going well before the morning news shows are done. 

I have gotten so much done around this house by the lake lakelit lakette big giant pond.

I have cleaned rooms and clothes.
I have stripped wallpaper from multiple (8) long walls.
I have vacuumed and steam cleaned carpets and cooked dinner (well maybe just once but I can't get all this stuff done if I have to stop working to cook).
I have sewn blankets and burp pads and I have crocheted a baby blanket, hat and boots. Not booties. Boots!
And I have spent some quality time on Pinterest.
But that was mostly work related. Well, some of it was.

Sadly, it all ends tonight.
Tomorrow is another work day. A day full of fabulous sitting. All day.

I won't publish my thoughts on what TPTB have planned for us tomorrow. I need this job for at least three more years. And that's all I'm going to say about that!

I just hope the fast food restaurants located between the two sites the entire elementary staff for the county has been assigned has been notified that all bazillion of us will be hungry and in a hurry.

It is a little know fact that teachers live for those days when we get to eat lunch like grown-ups.


Just sayin'..................

Happy Birthday, Mom

One of my favorite bloggers is back after a long silence.
http://www.notesfromthetrenches.com/page/4/

She wrote about her perfectionism and how she often doesn't start a post because the conditions aren't perfect. Anyway, go read what she wrote and pretend that I wrote it too. She is funnier than I am but I may have her beat in the crazy department.

So today in honor of my mother, who often told me I was a wonderful writer, I will start again. She may have been reading through the eyes of love but that's okay.

Today would have been her birthday.

If she were still here on this earth we would drive to her favorite restaurant tomorrow to celebrate. She and my dad have, (had?...I never know the words for these moments) birthdays seperated by one day and we always celebrated on the 'in between day'.
Since Mom's death I have discovered that my eyes are indeed quite leaky. Previously, I rarely cried and even take some sort of perverse pride in traversing difficult, highly emotional event dry-eyed.

That would be some of the crazy I mentioned earlier.

I wanted to call my aunt today. She and Mom were best friends.
But tears have forged a steady trail down my cheeks and I can't find my voice underneath their salty tracks.

My sweet, sweet cousin called her for me. I didn't even ask her to.
My kids have all called to check on me.
So has my sister. 

I have the best family.

I just wish she were here too.

Just sayin'...................................