Memory Lane

I've been taking many, many trips down memory lane in the past few months. Reading old journals, looking at old pictures, and spending just as much time laughing as I have crying. There has been more healing in these trips than I think I can even know in this moment.

I learned and am just starting to understand just how many people fiercely held space for me and believed in my until I could step into that space myself. Many of those conversations that were had are now starting to make sense. I've also written a few emails to those amazing teachers who were, well, amazing.

Going through my high school scrap book I found a page that I had written about several memorable teachers I had the amazing opportunity to learn from and get to know. I graduated 10 years ago and reading these statements tonight, I can still tell you who each was one written about.

I thought I would share that list here.

* One that, on occasion, would walk out the door in the morning with two different shoes on their feet.

* And another teacher who employed the use of square dances to teach their students how chemical bods are formed

* And the teacher how, no matter how boring their subject, could have you rolling on the floor laughing in no time.

* And then there was the one who put their job on the line to see you grow in your faith

* There there are those who challenge, push, stretch and won't settle for what you are but for what you can be

* There are those who danced to the beat of their own drum

* What about those teachers who used they most horrible, most annoying songs to help you learn, that even now, you won't admit that those songs helped

* There are those who, as a student, you pray you don't get, and when you do you sit in fear on the first day only to learn that there is more fun in store than anyone though possible.

* Any what about he one who would let you do almost anything in order to express your creativity

* Of those who say the same phrase so many times you lose count

* Or the teacher who watched you grow from your first day of kindergarten to the day you graduated from high school

* And the teacher who rewarded the class for doing well on a test with a day of blowing things up

* And the teacher who knew so little about your life but could look right at you and speak to your heart, help heal your heart. Who, when they are proud of you their face cannot hide it, but when you mess up it shows too. But no matter how good or bad you do the encouragement in never ending. The teacher who can say more in three minutes than most other could in a 55 minute class period.