Last September, I made a small donation to Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada*, an organization started by, among others, Sharon Hampson. I grew up watching her on television as one third of the trio Sharon, Lois and Bram. I LOVE HER. Truly, I do. When I discovered that she had had cancer herself, I felt sick. So when I found an opportunity to give back, I took it. When I made my donation, there was a comment box where you could say why you were giving. So I wrote about growing up watching the Elephant Show. I wrote that Sharon was always like a mom to me and that I never questioned it when, at the end of the show, she said that she loved me. I took it as absolute truth. She had given me so much and inspired me to learn about and listen to all sorts of music. I wake up everyday with a song already stuck in my head, I hum or sing all day long and I am always looking for new songs and artists. I have to believe that Sharon Lois and Bram were and are a part of that.
Anyway. On Wednesday, I got a letter. From whom? SHARON HAMPSON! No way! I nearly passed out. I was so excited and almost afraid to open it. But I obviously did. It was a Holiday card and inside it read:
"Dear Patti,
Thank you for your kind donation to Willow and your lovely message which was passed on to me. I am touched.
Sharon"
Oh. My. God.
I noticed that the return address label was HER home address. It had to be. There was no "care of" or anything like that. I called friends. I wrote emails. Then I did something most people would find odd. I wrote her back. I had to. I had to let her know how much it meant to me that I got a letter from a childhood hero. I will admit that I had trouble putting it in the mailbox the next day, but I did and if my calculations are correct, she'll receive it sometime next week.
It still makes me giddy. I can't believe I got a letter from Sharon. SHARON! Oh lord.
*Go to http://www.willow.org/ to make your own donation and learn more.
12 January, 2008
Grrrr...
That's right. I said Grrrr. Just a little irritation at work, that's all. On Friday I was scheduled to have more than ten kids, I ended up having eight but I had an Assistant Teacher all day long anyway. I loved it. I love her. She works in the Older Twos room next to me. We get along very well. Anyway, at snack time "Colin" wanted to have his Teddy Grahams. (Oh my God has my life really become this dull?) and "Mary", my assistant, said no. Now, I really wouldn't have cared either way. However, she said no. Out of respect, I backed her. Colin asked me and I said no. He proceeded to through a tantrum. He is famous for these, I actually can't believe that he is going to move up to the next age group in a few days. Anyway. After about ten minutes (NO LIE) I was getting a little irritated. I went in to the other room to find my boss and asked her if she could help.
"Colin is throwing a fit because Mary and I have told him that he can't have cookies for snack. Can you help us calm him down?"
She followed me out and found Colin and asked him what was wrong.
"I want to eat my Teddy Grahams."
"Well, come on, snack time is almost over. Let's go back into the classroom and you can eat your Teddy Grahams in there."
WHAT!? We were so ticked off. I mean, since when does "could you help me clam him down" translate to "could you override my authority and appease this child so I can go about my work"?
Then during nap time "Gladys" came in and gave me my new class list. There are six children currently in my room who will move up on Monday and I am getting four new ones. No one told me about this. What a way to learn.
I've already come to the conclusion that eight hour days with 10 children is not for me. I will stay until at least February as I have a HUGE bill to pay by the end of this month and I can't afford to let it slide. However, I have some other prospects, a nature center and a children's music program.
Now, I realize that a lot of people think I am too fickle or that I can't stick to anything. That simply isn't true. I just keep grabbing at straws, trying to find what it is I want to do and I keep coming up short. The money is usually good but I feel exhausted, sore or just empty at the end of the day. It certainly doesn't help that I have never been in so much pain. My back, hips, knees, ankles and neck are on fire and lately, I've developed trouble breathing. I am wondering if I am allergic to something at the center. I'll have to discuss it with my boss. We'll see.
"Colin is throwing a fit because Mary and I have told him that he can't have cookies for snack. Can you help us calm him down?"
She followed me out and found Colin and asked him what was wrong.
"I want to eat my Teddy Grahams."
"Well, come on, snack time is almost over. Let's go back into the classroom and you can eat your Teddy Grahams in there."
WHAT!? We were so ticked off. I mean, since when does "could you help me clam him down" translate to "could you override my authority and appease this child so I can go about my work"?
Then during nap time "Gladys" came in and gave me my new class list. There are six children currently in my room who will move up on Monday and I am getting four new ones. No one told me about this. What a way to learn.
I've already come to the conclusion that eight hour days with 10 children is not for me. I will stay until at least February as I have a HUGE bill to pay by the end of this month and I can't afford to let it slide. However, I have some other prospects, a nature center and a children's music program.
Now, I realize that a lot of people think I am too fickle or that I can't stick to anything. That simply isn't true. I just keep grabbing at straws, trying to find what it is I want to do and I keep coming up short. The money is usually good but I feel exhausted, sore or just empty at the end of the day. It certainly doesn't help that I have never been in so much pain. My back, hips, knees, ankles and neck are on fire and lately, I've developed trouble breathing. I am wondering if I am allergic to something at the center. I'll have to discuss it with my boss. We'll see.
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