A Very Special Wedding

The wedding I attended on Saturday was for someone who is very dear to my heart.

I was Madeline's 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teacher and needless to say, when you spend three years with someone, they become almost like family.

Her sister, Meredith, was also in my class. A year younger that Madeline, she was with for me for 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade. (I taught the 2nd/3rd grade Gifted class for one year and then moved on to the 4th/5th Gifted class for the rest of my career.)

I've known these two ladies since they were 7 and 8 - lucky me!

Brooke, Madeline's best friend and matron of honor, was also in my class for three years. Needless to say, seeing these young women again was very special to me.

I sat down Sunday and went through old blog posts on Teachinmama, my original blog. Here are a few of my favorite photos with the girls.

Both girls were accomplished ballet dancers and I went to many of their performances.

A highlight of my Christmases for years was attending their annual performance of The Nutcracker Ballet and seeing their roles change as they grew more and more accomplished in their ballet training.

In 2011 I had both knees replaced, and they came to see me while I recovered at home. As a treat, they made ice cream for me from eggs that their ducks had laid. (If you are ever offered duck egg ice cream, say YES!! It is so rich and creamy!)

I retired in 2018, and with my principal's blessing (and to my surprise), years of former students descended on my classroom one afternoon in May and surprised me with a retirement party.

Madeline and Merry were right in the thick of things. What a lovely thing for all those former students to do for me and what a way to close out your career by celebrating with kids (many of whom were now adults) that you loved and still held close in your heart.

I didn't stay retired for more than a few months - due to illness, a teacher suddenly needed to retire during the school year. I was asked to finish the year as the class's teacher.

There was also a teacher's aide position for that class to be filled. Madeline was a studying Elementary Education at Purdue and I asked her to apply for the job if she was interested. She was, and was able to arrange her class schedule and take the aide position.

She did a wonderful job and it was really, really fun to have her as a colleague. (She is now in her fourth year of teaching 4th grade.)

Bumping into Brooke and Madeline at The Feast of the Hunters' Moon in 2021.

Congratulations, Madeline and Joe, and I hope you have many happy years together! And thank you for including me in your wedding day. 

Love always,

Mrs. I./Lynn

 

An Unexpected Thoughtfulness

Yesterday, I went with some friends to watch The Nutcracker Ballet, an annual tradition. A former student, Meredith, was dancing the role of Fritz as well as on point as a snowflake in The Waltz of the Snowflakes, a flower in The Waltz of the Flowers, and in Trepak.

 Meredith as Fritz.

 Merry on the left in Trepack.

Merry is one of my three-year students, a very special group of kids that I was lucky enough to have in my class for three years. I was her second, fourth, and fifth grade teacher.

 Her sister, Madeline was also a three-year kiddo (third, fourth, and fifth) and they have stayed in touch with me since they left Hershey. Merry is a freshman at Harrison and Madeline is a sophomore.

Last fall they went to New York City over fall break and sent me this picture of themselves in the NYC M&M store.

I laughed when I saw the orange and blue M&Ms they are holding!

When the ballet was over, I waited for the Meet and Greet afterward so I could say "hello" and congratulate Meredith on her beautiful dancing. (She looked so grown up and graceful when on point!) I also brought a goodie bag with some treats and a note to give to her.

Merry gave me a big hug, and then, to my surprise handed me a gift bag, too.

"We got this for you in New York City," she said, and asked me to open it then and there.

An orange M&M dispenser with an orange Luke Skywalker M&M! Who wouldn't love that?

But more importantly, who wouldn't love a generous girl who is so thoughtful that she gives YOU a gift on HER big day? The day she is supposed to be in the limelight?

I thought I might cry.

Thank you, Merry, from the bottom of my heart. And brava for a wonderful job dancing.