Hello, I've had a great couple of days..

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Hello, I've had a great couple of days..
4
Wed, 05-14-2003 - 8:58pm
Yesterday I ran into my DDs' kindergarten teacher from way back when! Hadn't seen her or talked to her in 15 years I guess. We had the best visit. She caught me up on her DD, and her 2 little grandbabies! She is a Montessori teacher, has a wonderful way with children anyway, and I imagine she is just a spectacular grandma! Full of energy, and creativity, very tolerant, all those good things. And I told her about her former students, and gave her so much (deserved) credit for the impact she had on them. She really did. Actually, the girls nearly always had terrific teachers, only a couple here and there that we could have done without! Generally I was in awe of them for being able to keep on year after year for so long without burning out, or at least, for lasting as long as they did until they finally burned out! What a tough job, especially with the little ones, all those active minds and energetic little bodies. I taught high school, but never could I have managed the little ones. Frankly, don't think I could work too well with the older ones these days! But there's a discussion for another day! The visit was lovely.

Then my aunt (father's baby sister) called last night and we visited by phone for an hour! She's 82 now, and I never have a conversation with her that I don't come away with more respect for her, and I always learn something new about her. This time, we were talking about my DDs and their long-distance romances, and the heartbreak of ending them. She told me that when she was in med school, she was in love with (they didn't say *went with* back then I guess!) a man for 3 years. It was very stormy, eventually they broke it up for good, and that's when she moved to South America and opened a clinic. I'd always wondered what led her to that, but just thought she went there because we had family working there. She said it took her years to recover from that love. She later married an engineer she met there, they lived in the Andes until her third child was born and had respiratory problems, and they returned to the States. It may sound trite, but I can't think of a better word at the moment, it was really *special* to talk to my 82 year old aunt about her love life, and her views of love, and so on. Now she's facing problems that come with her age, and she is handling them with such grace. Talking with her just made me feel so refreshed and positive.

Then today I got a note from an old friend. I'd seen his picture in the paper and clipped it and sent it to him. I saw him last year at a funeral for the first time in easily 30 years. He was a talented musician in our town, and flamboyantly gay, not so easy in a small town. And probably 20 years older than I am, so our paths didn't really cross all that much, except that we went to the same church. He's a real sweet man, and wrote the most beautiful thank-you for the clipping. Not only did he word it perfectly, but his handwriting is incredible! I showed it to DH and said I'm going to put it in my baby book (!!!yes, I have my baby book!!); it's too beautiful to just throw out! Think I'll try to stay in touch with him.

So it's been a nice time, hearing from old friends and loved ones. Maybe I can make it to chat! It's about time. Seren

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Wed, 05-14-2003 - 10:10pm
You've had some nice times catching up with people since yesterday, Seren. Nice.

Sleep well, and I'll see ya later!....BB









Avatar for hope_bou
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 05-15-2003 - 12:07am
Seren- lovely encounters. These are so precious. While reading about your Aunt, I thought about a national women's project- Writing Women Into History. If interested I could send you some information. I wrote my grandmother into history. She was a rural elementary school teacher and principal. These early experiences need to be recorded.

Hug

Hope


Hug Hope
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-1999
Thu, 05-15-2003 - 5:58am
Seren!

I really enjoyed reading your descriptions of connections with family and friends! These are times we treasure more and more with passing years!

I especially enjoyed your *aunt* story!

Have a wonderful day ... I'm in a rush as always! ;-)

F.

 

Avatar for marmoranana
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 05-15-2003 - 7:59am
Oh Seren, how nice. Your "visits" will be emotional memories for a long time. They are events to be cherished. I felt a lot of warmth in your post.

Lanie