Day 10: Celebration

Today has been yet another stormy day outside. Oh my goodness--I just love these types of days. And since Jace didn't have school, I spent most of the day at home with him. He entertained himself for the most part and I entertained myself for the most part so all in all, this day was pretty much enjoyable.

So one highlight of my day is that my friend Beth is back at work. She was sick last week and therefore out of the office. I always miss her when she's gone. It's like a little piece of the puzzle is missing. So as soon as I entered the office and saw her smiling face, I felt a little lighter. I went into her office and we chatted for awhile. But with Beth, it's rarely 'chatting.' It's more like connecting. She's one of those people who is gifted at being real and insightful. And she absolutely knows how to listen--she listens with her whole being. And so though I intended to just say 'good morning' and hurry off to my office and accomplish a million and one things before my class, I ended up staying about half an hour because the conversation was simply too good to deny. Beth is just one of those people that everybody should know. When she's around, it's like comin' home.

A second highlight of my day? When  I went to class, there was Abby. Abby is one of those kids that just make you breathe a little easier when she's around. She's calm and collected and creative and adorable. She was gone last week to Bell Fest and I absolutely missed her in my classroom. She is the sort of person who, when everybody is telling you something and you aren't sure it's true, you can ask  her and know that you can depend on the truth--no matter what. So anyway, when I walked into the classroom this morning--a flurry of activity to get 'stuff' written on the board and organize my desk and unstack my stacks of papers and set up my iPad--there was Abby: all smiles. And she looked at me and said, "Mrs. Seals! I missed you. I really missed you."

And her words made me stop -- really stop -- and enjoy that perfect moment.

And then this afternoon Estee Marie called. Estee is one of those rare and beautiful people whom we taught back in the day that was so much more than 'just' a student. As a 14 year old kid, she was an 'old soul' with wisdom beyond her years. We've remained close through the years and, of course, she is an adult now with kids older than what she was when we taught her. But anyway, she called to see if we were surviving the storm as Sandy has arrived on the east coast. And what began as a casual "How are you?" conversation, quickly spiralled into something much deeper and personal. With Estee there is no pretending. We have known each other for so many years that we laugh readily, cry easily, and connect instantly. She is a rare and beautiful person and I count myself so blessed to call her my friend.

And really...my intention when I started this blog was not to write about how three people affected my life today. But as I reflect on the highlights of this day's events, I realize that, truly, those three individuals made the difference--made life on this planet just a little more bearable. And really...isn't that what life is all about--connecting with others?

It's time to celebrate.

And what could be better to celebrate than the people in my life.

There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us,
That it hardly behooves any of us
To talk about the rest of us.

Edward Wallis Hoch