Man’s Crown of Distinction

Some of the most profound and moving people in our lives are teachers. Recently I was visiting a friend of mine that told me that she has written down every book she has ever read since she was in 6th grade. She told me that the inspiration had come from her 6th grade teacher that told her that, “Knowledge is Man’s Crown of Distinction.” Teachers are truly inspirational. They are in our lives for such a short time and can affect us deeply for years to come. This was certainly the case with me. When I was in 4th grade I had a phenomenal teacher named Sharon Brown at Freehold Intermediate School. Mrs. Brown came into my life at an exceedingly rocky time for me. She was this beautiful ebony woman that taught gym and whose presence was larger then life. Mrs. Brown protected me from the other students when I could not protect myself and one day she told me (as I walked down the hall) that the world was not black and white but made up of a thousand shades of gray--I never forgot that. Mrs. Brown made a huge difference in my life. Similarly, Alex has a wonderful teacher in his life. Her name is Mrs. McSweegan. Mrs. McSweegan has tirelessly worked to help raise Alex’s self esteem and help him with follow-through in his class and transitioning from one task to another. Together with Dr. Curtis (Alex’s strings instructor) Mrs. McSweegan is making a lasting impression on Alex; Impressions that will help him weather middle school. All of these teachers have one thing in common; they have taught us things that go beyond what can be taught in books. In their own special way, they have left their imprint on our souls. That is their crown of distinction.

Thank you Mrs. Sharon Brown (wherever you are). I still think of you often and can not listen to Candy Man without smiling and thinking of you.

Does what I do matter?

The question is “does what we do matter?” I stopped writing on my blog in December 2009. Now it is almost May 2010. There are so many reasons that I stopped writing. But in a nut shell I got disheartened and then I allowed life to get in the way. I kept asking if anybody cared that I was writing. With only one follower, I assumed the answer was, “No.” However, in retrospect I was asking the wrong questions. What was behind the question of “does what I do matter” was an even larger question of “do I matter?” I have come to the conclusion that the answer is “Yes.” Recently, my hospice patient passed away. She was a stay at home Mom and I loved to listen to her stories of raising her girls in their formative years. Before she passed away she gave me the recipe to Strawberry Banana Pie which I made this spring for my children. They loved it! Even Scott loved it. Strawberry Banana Pie has become a staple at our table and in our lives. My hospice patient mattered and every time I eat that pie, I will think of her and her legacy will be remembered; which brings full circle to my blog postings. It does not matter if the world reads my blog or not. What matters is that it is a way of saying I was here. My blog and the things I write for my kids is my Strawberry Banana Pie. So I am delighted that I am remembered by at least one follower and that my 3 adoring children will remember that I was here. And for that I matter.

Spring Is Here

On the way back from my run, I saw a flock of Robins. I was running up an incline and breathing rather hard, but as soon as I saw the birds my spirits burst with merriment. Robins are the first bird of spring in the Northeast and this was the first sighting. I couldn’t wait to get home and tell my family what I had seen. The Robin is such a special bird. The migration of the Robin is a clear symbol that winter is drawing to a close. Like the crocuses and the daffodils they are a living testament that rebirth is in the air and spring fireworks are right around the corner. In an era where we try to predict the weather, the Robins seem to have the inside track. Seeing the Robin as a symbol for spring made me consider the true symbols for unity that brings all of humanity together. Most of them are found in nature, like the Robin. The more enduring promises of hope and unity for the world can be seen in the simple things; the warmth of the sun, the water, the moon and the stars. Maybe this is why China chose to bring the world together at the Beijing Olympics in a metaphorical birds nest. Having a civilization that has been around for over 4,000 years they have come to honor nature in their everyday lives. Zen, Taoism, and Confucianism all honor and revere nature. Our family is making a concerted effort to enjoy the subtle things in life that can only be found in nature. Right now, my husband has started his seedlings in the basement. Each day it is marvelous to wake-up and walk down stairs to inventory the astronomical advancements that these seeds in the dirt have made overnight. Nature teaches us so much about calmness, and mysticism, and beauty. It even gives us greater insight into our own soul. One may argue that it is the true kiss of the Devine. When we get so busy on our cell phones, our to-do list and TV it is helpful to take a deep breath, drink in the air and look at the sky for a moment in thanksgiving. So often we discount nature in our lives, but it is the living breathing source that ties us all together.