gems from andy rooney

"Computers make it easier to do a lot of things but most of the things they make it easier to do don't need to be done."

"I didn't get old on purpose. It just happened. If you're lucky, it could happen to you."

"It would be a better world if everyone in it knew all the truth about everything."

"Most of us end up with five or six people who remember us.  Teachers have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives."

"Death is a distant rumor to the young." 

"If you wonder what anyone thinks of you, consider what you think of them."

"Being broke is a terrible feeling but it’s probably an experience everyone ought to have once in a lifetime."

"One question in my mind, which I hardly dare mention in public, is whether patriotism has, overall, been a force for good or evil in the world. Patriotism is rampant in war and there are some good things about it. Just as self-respect and pride bring out the best in an individual, pride in family, pride in teammates, pride in hometown bring out the best in groups of people. War brings out the kind of pride in country that encourages its citizens in the direction of excellence and it encourages them to be ready to die for it. At no time do people work so well together to achieve the same goal as they do in wartime. Maybe that's enough to make patriotism eligible to be considered a virtue. If only I could get out of my mind the most patriotic people who ever lived, the Nazi Germans."

"It's paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn't appeal to anyone."

"Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it."

Andy Rooney reminds me of the times when news reports provided facts and nothing else.  A time when common sense was valued and respected by most, if not all.  

That desk, those books and all that paper... 

This is how I will forever remember him:

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Andy Rooney 

1919-2011 

Your wisdom and wit will be missed.  

If you're gonna fall, stick it!

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Growing up involved in cheerleading and gymnastics, the term "stick it" has significant meaning.  In any given practice session, "stick it" is yelled countless times as an encouraging reminder to keep your composure and nail your jump, stunt or flip.  Oft times, hearing a team mate yell it (in a tone that made you know they were not messin' around with you and very well meant every word) could make the difference between wanting to give up (and bail out on said move) and actually committing to finish (or stick it) with excellence.  

Back in the day when I taught public school and was great with child (almost full term pregnancy), I walked across the hallway to ask a fellow teacher a question.  On my way back to my room, half of the hallway had been mopped (unbeknownst to me!).  It was after school and I was wearing flip flops (such a beloved shoe!) so when my left heel hit the wet side of the hallway, I headed south in a hurry.  As my left leg continued to slide further and further in front of me, I quickly evaluated my choices: 

try to fight it (no way of stopping this big belly train!) 

land on my back (attempting to turn would break at least one if not both legs)

stick it (and you know I did...)

I heard the old, familiar command from my inner being and decided to relax and work with the fall.  I let my left leg continue to slide out in front of me, kept my right leg behind me, squeezed my pregnant butt, tightened my thigh muscles and landed with my head and arms held high (a la Mary Lou Retton) in the most fabulous pregnant lady split you have EVER seen.  I had nary a scratch and I felt rather Olympic on the ground there.  Why, I think I held my split for a few seconds... then I called for my fellow teacher to help me get up!

Today, my encouragement to you is this:  STICK IT!  
Whatever you are doing...

a new job
the same old job
a new fitness routine
caring for others
caring for yourself
teaching
writing
singing
dancing
landscaping
sewing
branching out
moving 
or walking through a transition
newly married
re-married
happily married 
divorced
or living single
parenting
co-parenting
single parenting or
maybe you've got an empty nest
decorating
baking
in school or 
learning a "new normal"
state/nation/globe trotting 
daydreaming
creating your dream or
living out your dream...


Whatever you are doing, do it well.

Stick it like Mary Lou, ya hear?  Love & Hugs!!!

In honor of teachers everywhere-- Secondary Edition

In order according to appearance, here are my favorite Secondary teachers:

1. Pam Rector-- high school... cannot remember what grade now (9th maybe?)
She showed up everyday with a happy heart and a genuine smile in my first hour class. Everyday. First hour. I am not exaggerating. I thought she was the happiest woman on Earth. I knew that her happiness was sincere so I cherished the expression and appreciated it tremendously. Even one time I can clearly remember that she was having a bad day and she said (holding back tears) that she was going to be optimistic even in the face of adversity. I've never forgotten that day because her words literally infused me with hope. Her strength gave me strength and in that moment I knew that I too would choose optimism. Always. In addition to her contagiously awesome personality, she nourished my thirst for literature with remarkable reads like Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier and Hamlet. Her love for the stories compelled me to read and now that I think about her happy heart and brilliant smile, I realize that she was a tremendous influence on my classroom demeanor back in the day when I was a teacher.


2. Michelle Shepard-- high school Marketing teacher and DECA sponsor
Affectionately called "Mama Shep," she was (and probably still is) equal parts Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel ...and Pit Bull. I mean that in a good way. Really. Golden Retriever: she thoroughly enjoyed life, loved to laugh and have fun. Cocker Spaniel: she was (and still is) the reason the phrase cute as a button was coined. Pit Bull: she had no problem letting you know who was running the show should you experience a momentary lapse of sanity.  In her classroom, we worked hard, played hard and were essentially a family. She was always tough but loving, honest and sincere. The love was truly palpable. I took my first plane ride across the country with her and enjoyed DECA competitions at the regional and national level. We cleaned up with awards too, which had much to do with the whole working hard mantra. At an early age, I learned the art, psychology and purpose of marketing. I still believe that I can sell a ketchup popsicle to a lady wearing white gloves because of the marketing expertise I was so fortunate to receive. And even though I don't sell a thing as far as a professional career is concerned, I cannot emphasize how those years of Marketing have made me a savvy consumer with Jedi-like critical thinking skills.  I owe it all to Mama Shep.

3. Bumper Reese-- high school
I honestly do not remember the name of the class though I am pretty sure it was an elective. I do however remember his wonderful stories and life lessons that he taught us. He was a cool teacher who wasn't afraid to buck the system. He never gave us busy work. We had to complete our assignments, take our test and then we could do whatever we wanted to (within reason, of course) at our desk. This was a mid-day class for me and it was nice to have some time to talk and laugh with friends, get an assignment done for a later class or start on my homework. His attitude was get your work done first and foremost, then play. He was a football coach with loads of real life wisdom that he shared often. He was rather muscular and handsome so all of us girls were goo-goo eyed over him. He never let it go to his head and really didn't seem to care because he was head over heels in love with his wife. I can still remember his expressions whenever he spoke about her. It was obvious that he adored her, which of course made us girls all the more goo-goo eyed, but like I said, he didn't care.  Just the thought of his faithful devotion still makes me smile. I also remember when he had a child and it was very cool to see a different kind of twinkle in his eye all of a sudden.


4. Trice Butler-- college professor
She was like a mom away from home + a loving teacher who pushed me to always do my absolute best. I admired her strength, wealth of knowledge and honesty. Still do. She was also my Academic Advisor so she counseled me through many pivotal college and career decisions. I didn't always listen to her sage advice, but she loved me anyway and even though she always turned out to be right, she never rubbed it in my face. I still keep in touch with her and always will.


5. Kay Meyers-- college professor
Hilarious tell it like it is professor who modeled, welcomed and encouraged innovative thinking.  I thrived in her classroom.  Another mom away from home who nurtured me mentally and emotionally. She always used real life application in addition to the course material during lecture and discussion. I truly appreciated the lively debate and discussion that took place within her classroom because it taught me the art of conversation.



Honorable Mentions:

Linda Gray-- college professor/English Gangsta
Old English, conjugation, etymology, passage analysis, history of the English language, copywriting, technical writing, anything to do with writing... She taught me how to do it all. She is the Godfather mother of the English language, which makes me the Goddaughter, I guess ;D


Garnell Riddle & Ayn Grubb-- these ladies were my dynamic duo regarding student teaching and real classroom application. I seriously gained (at the very least) a decade of teaching experience sitting under these two. From seeing Harry Wong's book, First Days of School played out in real time to running a classroom with high academic standards where true learning takes place, these two seasoned veterans showed me how to walk the ropes and then gave me wings. These ladies are/were Master Teachers who were passionate, knowledgeable and relevant.  I cherish the time that I spent with them and now I realize it is one thing to study under a Master and another to have a Master willingly pour into your life while you study. They were both Master Teachers who willingly poured into me. I am grateful for the lessons, the laughter and the enduring love.



These awesome educators positively impacted my life.  
You can check out In honor of teachers everywhere-- Primary Edition here.




Who are your favorite teachers?

In honor of school teachers everywhere--Primary Edition

Here are my favorite teachers from Pre-K through middle school: 

1. My Granny-- She taught me my ABCs and 123s.  I stayed with her while my mom was at work and she taught me how to cook, clean, sing, play piano, and read.  We went to the store together, ate french fries at Central Park together, laughed together, talked, and watched Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy... together.  We played Bible Lotto and she taught me songs like "Amazing Grace" and "Jesus Loves Me." When I did start public school, she was the one who helped me get out the door and on the bus in time.  When I came home from school every day, her face greeted me as she opened the door.  She was and still is like a second mother to me.  

2. Bettye Johnson -- My kindergarten teacher

Love love love her.  She has a special place in my heart because she was a very sweet-spirited lady who loved us all as if she were our mother.  Truly everything I needed to know I learned in kindergarten from her.  I found her on Facebook just the other day and sent her a sincerely sappy and sweet message straight from my heart.  Love eternal for Bettye Johnson... and "love" here is such an understatement.


3. Cerita Glenn -- 2nd grade 
Initially, she had me at the fact that our first names were somewhat similar.   I had just moved to a new state and was therefore in a brand new school.  Potentially this could have been a vulnerable time; however, I remember this awesome teacher loved on and nurtured me bigtime.  She definitely helped to make my transition fun, simplistic and sweet.   Life in her classroom produced a wonderful school year which included tremendous learning, new friendships and playing the handbells during music class.  (Yes, you just read handbells... and I *seriously* enjoyed playing them.)  I don't know where she is, which makes me a teensy bit sad because I would love for her to know just how I adore her and what a major impact she made on my life.  Holler if you know her, mk?


4. Eleanor Calloway--4th grade
(ha and I didn't do that on purpose... #4, 4th grade teacher)
Classy, intelligent, sophisticated-yet-down-to-Earth lady.  I admired her tremendously.  She was sharp, sassy, fun and unforgettable.  When she made a point, it was crystal clear and the memory stuck.  She treated all of us as if we were gifted and required our best effort.  She set high standards of excellence for us and didn't take no mess!  Encouragement, laughter and learning were the triad of her classroom.  I don't know where Ms. Eleanor Calloway is either, but I hope one day I can tell her how she was a bright star in my sky.  


5. Jeraldine Sims--6th grade
Tough love.  Focus.  Discipline.  Hard work.  Jeraldine Sims was no joke.  Doesn't her name just sound like she don't play around?  I can still remember the first day of class with her because I was scared.  Talking during class?  One look from her could make you shut your mouth, squeeze your sphincter muscles and get back on task simultaneously.  Even though she sorta scared me, I loved her old school values and her tough love.  She talked to us about staying focused on our studies rather than knuckleheads of the opposite sex.  Several times when I was on the cusp of what could have quickly turned into a shady situation, she appeared (seemingly out of thin air...) and told me to get to where ever I was supposed to be in a tone that closely resembled a combination of both my Mom and my Granny.  *Cue sphincter muscles and exit stage right.*   


Honorable Mentions:

Linda Correy (sp?)-- elementary school music teacher extraordinaire. I have always loved music and she nurtured my love for music so tenderly. I ALWAYS looked forward to music class... the songs, the instruments, the music theory and choir performances. I can still remember singing this song at the start of class, "Follow follow me in a line in a line. Follow follow me we will go this way...Follow follow me we will stop our feet, look into the circle, it looks so neat." And, I still remember singing our school song, "Lakeside Lucky" ... which I believe she wrote.  The singer in me simply adored this music teacher. 

Librarian @Lakeside Elementary--cannot remember her name :( but I do remember that she wore braces on both legs. She regularly read aloud to my class and as a result we were a completely captivated audience. Her reading nurtured my love of books and reading. I can still see her lovely face and hear her voice reading with emotion, emphasis and exceptional character expression.




Click here for the Secondary Edition :)