School days, school days

For many years, fifteen or more, I was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. It is an honorary society for women teachers and through this organization I met some amazing women, some from as far away as Germany. I was the resident musician of our chapter so I got tagged to play piano and sing at every event and usually for our District events as well. There were women from other chapters who I only saw maybe once or twice a year, but in moments of greeting the time seemed to melt away.

I drifted away from the organization in 2005 when we were planning our cross country move from Miami to California. It was easier at the time than saying even more goodbyes and being busy right up until the bitter end.

Well, we didn't move, and I lost touch with all of them except for one, whom I saw at the funeral of one a former choir member over the summer. Then last weekend, I received a call from another member inviting me to a pay-your-own-way lunch this morning to catch up with some of the other members and to pay tribute to two of our long time members that had recently passed away. Of course I said I would be there, and I dressed up and said goodbye to my son and daughter-inlaw (they were getting ready to drive back to his base this morning) and set off for the country club near my old church, in the neighborhood where I grew up.

The hugs began in the parking lot and intensified as each successive 'sister' came through the door. We laughed and shared photos of our children and grandchildren (theirs, not mine!) and of course the conversations quickly focused on teaching and retirement, and coming out of retirement for some. Many of the women were my oldest son's teachers when he was in elementary school, and they were there for the birth of my Marine son and my daughter. In fact, the morning of my initiation was the morning I took a home pregnancy test and learned of my second son's impending arrival. :)

After lunch, our ringleader led us in a round robin reading of Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Singing." She had printed it out and cut it up into individual lines which were then assigned to each of us. As the last line was read, there was a beautiful silence as we took in the significance of what we were doing. Brenda, seated next to me, summed it up best: No matter how much time and distance comes between us, we will always share a bond, a sisterhood.

We spoke fondly of Jean and our other Brenda, so recently departed from us, and we lifted our glasses of water or iced tea in a toast, pledging to make this an annual event.

Our chapter has folded since I was an active member, but that special sense of belonging and purpose was still there. We've changed in the past several years. We're older, our faces lined a bit more and a few more touches of gray have been added, but there was a companionship there that I hadn't realized I'd missed.





And to close, a poem.

"THE TEACHER"
author unknown

The teacher looked ahead with misgivings, but with hope.
Would the way be smooth or rough?
Would it end in success or failure?
And she stood and looked and wondered.
And a voice said, answering: "There will be no end."


And the teacher smiled and said:
"I know it will end. I may teach one year, two years,
Or possibly many years,
But this I know: Someday it will end."

And the teacher went forward to teach.


And many gathered around her,
And they all had need to learn.
And the teacher looked into their eyes and desired to fill
their needs
And she taught them with mind and heart and voice --
A mind filled with knowledge,
A voice speaking wisdom,
And a heart overflowing with love.


Then life changed, and the teacher taught no more.
No more did eager students gather around her.
"It has ended," said the teacher, continuing on the road of
life. "This is the end of my teaching."


And she believed this until...

A doctor stood and said: "I am here because this teacher
taught me."

A lawyer stood and said: "I am here because this teacher
taught me."

An astronaut stood and said, "I am here because this teacher
taught me."

An engineer stood and said, "I am here because this teacher
taught me."

A teacher stood and said, "I am here because this teacher
taught me."

And many in good positions stood and said, " I am here
because this teacher taught me."


And the teacher looked ahead of those who had been taught and
saw the continued steps of progress, work, and success before each
one. And joy filled the teacher's heart, and she said,
"This is not the end. There is no end to my teachings."