The View from Here

The Highest Compliment Possible

Yesterday one of my students drew an elaborate picture for me.

It was his rendition of a video game, complete with lots of obstacles and lines and squares.

There were four or five people in the middle of the drawing.

There were two people off to one side.

Here is his explanation:

“See these people? (in the middle) These are the ones that are getting eaten!”

Points to the two off to one side.

“See, this is me and this is you! We are safe! We will NOT get eaten!”

Big laugh!

I was thrilled to be included in his safe group! LOL

I have to add that a few weeks ago the same student came up to my desk and said, “Mrs. Maurer, I think I’m starting to like you!”

And people think I do this for the money…………

That's Entertainment?

Entertainment: amusement, distraction, diversion.

I have become fascinated lately by what we consider “entertainment”. One of my projects for next year (yes, I’m already planning) is to compile a book about early forms of entertainment. Caddo was once a hub of local activities, from balloon rides to parties to concerts and plays. I think it will be interesting to see what our ancestors did for fun and who were considered the best local hosts and hostesses.

Yesterday I watched a report about the exotic animal farms in Texas. I was not aware that in many instances Texas has more of these wild animals than Africa! Of course one of the purposes for the farms is the conservation of the animals, but once the numbers are stable they allow “big game hunters” to pay big money to kill them. Now, I understand the concepts of hunting for food and hunting for game management and population control. I grew up in the country, surrounded by hunting men. What I don’t understand is the concept of killing for the thrill and entertainment of it! How can you find amusement in tracking down a beautiful gazelle and shooting it simply so you can hang its head on your wall?

I am also captivated by our obsession with food as entertainment. Food was meant to nourish and sustain our bodies, but it has become the focus of our lives in ways that I believe were never intended. Our desire to make food more palatable has gone so far beyond that concept as to make most of what we eat the antithesis of real food. Our penchant for celebrating every moment of our lives with some sort of food has certainly contributed to our national obesity. And our boredom with simple foods has led to a national mania to come up with something sweeter, fatter, saltier or prettier to entertain our mouth and mind.  Look at all the “cute”, multi-colored, shaped and flavored foods our children eat that did not even exist when we were children.

Don’t get me started on television. You know my thoughts about the trash many people consider entertaining.

Music…well some of it is.

Sports? A newscaster said it best yesterday. Football embodies everything the Romans loved: sex, violence, competition, and athletic prowess. And don’t forget money!

Please don’t label me as just another grumpy old woman. I wonder about things sometimes- I can’t help it. And this week I’m wondering about the things we find amusing. And if entertainment is also a “distraction and diversion”, what are we distracting and diverting our hearts and minds away from? There are only so many hours in the day. What we choose to do with them says a lot about us and our values.

I spend or waste as much time on entertainment as the next person, I just also wonder why!  

Country Girl

At the risk of making myself sound even stranger than you already think I am, I have to confess this morning that one of my favorite television programs is the U.S. Farm Report. Yes, I’m in front of the television at 6am on Sunday morning catching up on the latest news in agriculture. Before you get a hernia from laughing, let me tell you that this morning I learned about new regulations regarding school lunches, saw the recently revised climate zone map for gardeners, heard about a progressive hog farm that is using technology and “green” practices to raise better livestock, saw the weather forecast for the next thirty days, and listened to Baxter Black’s wonderful perspective on Hollywood and childhood heroes.   I find the concerns of county folk far more important than the national news report I saw yesterday on the popularity of platform high heels!

 

Magic Moment

Yes, in the center of the leaf is the shadow of the dove sitting on the fence behind me.

Is it any wonder...

that I live in the country, when I can come home to this? As I drove across the cattle guard yesterday afternoon I saw a black blob off to the side of the drive and couldn’t quite figure out what it was until this little masked face turned toward me. New calf! And one of the cutest yet!

After about five inches of rain the pond has returned to normal! Yeah! I hope the ducks and turtles and other critters enjoy the changes. Look at the difference in the water level in front of the little bush on the far side! First photo was taken in November and I took the other yesterday.

I am determined to get out and take some pictures this weekend. I’ve been a little bothered by the weather and my aching foot, but I am SO getting over that! Tired of limping and hobbling and creeping. I have done well during the day, but I guess by the afternoon I am tired, and the uneven ground outside is not the best for an unstable foot. So I have not been down to the pond. But I have an app for that! It’s called a walking stick, and I will use it if I need it.

Hope you have a Fabulous Friday!!  

It's all in how you look at it....

I was off the grid yesterday because I was “celebrating the end of the drought”. Yes, let’s go with that positive spin!

What actually happened was that a storm settled over us for most of the day. Our internet connection was non- existent. I left my umbrella at school weeks ago, so I got wet walking from the house to the truck. The back window of my truck leaked and soaked my emergency blanket. It rained so much that our driveway was nearly impassable. But the pond water is now lapping up against the dock! Yeah…end of drought! So it was a wonderful rainy day… all a matter of perspective (outlook, stance, point of view).

Even now, the things I had planned to do this morning may not get done because our internet connection is somewhat tenuous. There are probably a few clouds and even a little rain left on the horizon. I have “refreshed” a couple of times to no avail. But my little tasks and plans can wait until this afternoon or even tomorrow. The sense of urgency to complete them is all in my head and even this blog post can be postponed without dire consequences. There are more important things ahead of me today. It’s all a matter of priorities (importance, ranking, value).

And I am amenable to change. Okay, sometimes.

Facebook recently announced that I’d better be amenable and cooperative and every other word they can think of for willing, because once again, they are going to change the entire format of FB and I don’t get a choice in the decision. After all, it’s their site. Like it or leave it. And of course they are confident that we are all so addicted to our social networks that we wouldn’t dream of leaving. And I suppose I wouldn’t, unless…. Yes, I am just old enough and stubborn enough to draw a line. There are some things I won’t tolerate and if those occur I would leave FB and go back to my reclusive ways. I’m sure the tipping point for me wouldn’t bother half the people on FB and they would stay there forever. Our differences are just a matter of my perception (discernment, awareness, sensitivity).

I’ve had more than a few “ah ha” moments in my life, but none more profound than the first time I realized that other people not only viewed the world differently, but reacted to shared experiences and events in ways that I found baffling. I suppose I was a naïve child. I grew up with people and situations and rules and expectations that I considered perfectly normal and natural…until the first time a classmate stared incredulously at me and said, “Really?”  

School is usually our first inkling that other people do not share our unique understanding of the world. If you don’t believe me, come and visit my classroom. Yesterday two of my kindergartners got into a heated discussion about whether or not Jesus has “magical powers”. Oh, so cute! But also a reminder that even a five-year-old has opinions, ideas, and a perception of reality that may not concur with those of his peers. (And a reminder to me that they are not always thinking about school and their work!)

I guess in my roundabout way I’m just trying to remind you that no matter what happens today, your reaction to it will determine the essence of your experience. In the end it is not reality that creates our conclusions, but our perspective, priorities, and perceptions.

Make it a great day!

Play Ball!

I did my “extra-curricular duty” yesterday afternoon by working at the basketball game. No, I didn’t keep score or anything else that would be detrimental to the game…just accepted the ticket money. It has been many, many years since I have kept stats or scores for any sporting event! And the only reason I ever learned to do that was because I was clumsy and prone to strange accidents at a very, very young age.

I was in a car accident as an infant. When I was just a first grader a window fell on me during a storm. Within a few short years I had seriously cut my foot by stepping on a broken bottle in the river, lost part of a tooth in a slide accident, cut my tongue when I fell from the monkey bars, sprained an ankle during a softball game, nearly lost an eye in a farm accident, and broken my arm during a volleyball game. It was the broken arm that lead to my short-lived career in basketball.

I’m not sure how I ended up on the seventh-grade volleyball team. I suspect there must have been a shortage of girls at our school who were willing to be seen in public in our ugly uniforms. I certainly could not have been chosen for my athletic ability because I had already proven I had none! Always the last chosen for any competition between my peers. Everyone in school knew I couldn’t run to first base without hurting something. Hopscotch was my sport of choice, and I was careful about overexerting myself even there. After all, I was on the math team…I couldn’t afford a concussion!

So I was as shocked as anyone when I found myself not only on the volleyball team, but competing in our first away game. I should stop here to tell you that in the “old days” we played volleyball, and many other sports, on a blacktop playground. You know where this is going! Yes, within moments of the opening serve the girl in the row ahead of me knocked me down and I broke my arm. Never played volleyball again!

However, the coach did not want me sitting idly by while everyone else paid their dues in physical education class, so he taught me how to keep stats for the boys’ basketball team. I guess they must have already had a nerd for the girls’ team. The cast was on my left arm, not my writing arm, so I finished out the year using my brain instead of my injured, uncoordinated body.

The next year I attempted to learn tennis, but that is another ugly story with a back injury as an unhappy ending. By ninth grade I had moved to a school where music could be substituted for P.E. and I found my niche! Hallelujah! Of course my attempts at learning to play an instrument failed miserably, but I could and can make a joyful noise!

I admire all these young girls who can run, jump, and throw a ball with skill and precision. I know there were some proud parents and grandparents at yesterday’s game! And there was probably some parent sitting there repeating my mother’s mantra. “Please don’t let her break something else!”

Close to Home

Frank, Lois, Thomas, Mollie, Opal, Beatrice, James

I know it may be difficult to believe, but I often get so caught up in researching other families, I forget that my own family lived here! I do a little family research from time to time, but I guess I always think…”it can wait”. So last week when I was looking for an obituary for someone else, I was a little surprised to find the following account of my great-aunt’s death.

 

The Caddo Herald

February 26, 1942

Alexander Family Injured by Exploding Stove; House is Completely Destroyed

Fire Monday evening burned the home of Tom Alexander, south of the depot.

Mrs. Alexander and three of their children were severely burned, being taken to a hospital in Durant. Mrs. Alexander and a young son were the most severely hurt.

Fire is reported to have been stared when gasoline was put in the stove by mistake.

The fired department made a quick run, but were too late to save the home.

 

March 6, 1942

Mrs. Alexander Died from Burns in Oklahoma Hospital

Mrs. Tom Alexander died in University hospital Tuesday at 6pm of burns received when their house burned Monday the week before in Caddo.

Children burned at the time are recovering.

The fire was caused by gasoline being used to light a fire in a stove.

Mrs. Alexander is survived by her husband, three daughters- Elva, Myra, and Peggy, and one son- Billy Ray.

Funeral services were held in Pentecostal Church with Rev. Vernon Taylor officiating.

 

And this is from my grandmother’s family journal:

Thomas Frank Alexander

I’ll always remember Thomas, my oldest brother. Bad luck seemed to follow him all the time. He was a happy go lucky guy. Seemed to take it all in stride.

Clara, his first wife, got burned to death at age 31. Their house caught fire and her clothing caught fire and she couldn’t put them out. She died 8 days later.

Their third child Patricia Ann died at three weeks. It was during the depression. Thomas went to the bank to try to borrow $25 for a casket for the baby. Money was non-existent in those days, so he couldn’t borrow it. A Mr. McGraw, worked at Bass Grocery so Thomas was there telling him about how his child had died and he couldn’t borrow the money. Mr. McGraw asked him if he’d let him take a collection from people in town. Would he take the money? Thomas said, “I’d rather borrow it and pay it back, but if I can’t get it any other way, I’ll take it.” So the business men in town made up the money and gave him. He buried the baby in our mother’s burial lot so he didn’t have to buy a space.

Clara and Thomas had two children before Patricia (Elva Loucille, and Myra Ganelle) and two after (Peggy Sue and Billy Ray).

Billy Ray was the one hurt in the fire. His legs were burned really bad in the fire that killed his mother. He spent 3 months in the hospital for skin grafting and healing. And he had to go back for checkups for a year afterward. (Someone else in the family told me that the reason he lived was because his mother pushed him out of the house through a window.)

 

And as an added note, my great-grandmother Rhoda Alexander burned to death in a fire in 1931.

 

The Big Day!!

Okay, nature lovers, this is the day you’ve been anticipating for weeks…Squirrel Appreciation Day! I hope you have plenty of critter food on hand and you’re ready to show your love and gratitude for these little scamps! I know they can be annoying at times, but who among us hasn’t also admired their agility and ingenuity? Besides that, they are just so darn cute!

These are some of my favorite squirrel photos, and Animal Planet is offering some suggestions for celebrating. You can also learn more about squirrels at Squirrel Place.

Have a great day!!

Good luck with that attitude!

Being a teacher is akin to being a grandparent. Grandparents play a vital role in rearing and nurturing a child, but “you get to give them back” at the end of the day, or week or whatever. There are rest breaks and vacations and times to refresh body and soul because most children don’t stay with grandparents 24/7. So it is with teaching. No matter how rewarding or challenging my role as teacher is each year, I know that ultimately the students will go on to the next teacher and the next. And the bottom line is that the parent will be with them through all 15-20 years of their education.

I suppose that realization is why I often get frustrated with parents who are uncooperative and/or less than supportive of the education system. Each year I have at least one or two parents who, for whatever reason, ignore notes, do not respond to suggestions, do not help with homework, and do not seem interested in what goes on in the classroom. They also make excuses for their child’s behavior, work habits, and grades. Well, as a teacher I can only say, “Good luck with that attitude!” I just don’t think it’s going to improve anything about your child’s educational experience.

Why do some parents just not understand how school performance relates to the adult world of work? Are they fearful of placing too much responsibility on their child? Well the alternative to “too much” cannot be “none”. Life just doesn’t operate that way! From the time a child is born we are training it to live independently. And that training must include how to behave in society, how to make decisions, how to be responsible for our work and our actions, and how to use our brains to solve problems. School is the ideal platform for that training and experience. Where else will the child be supported by trained professionals, surrounded by students with similar abilities, and tested by standardized criteria?

I was a good student, but I also had parents who insisted that I take my work seriously. I did my homework even if I didn’t like it or the teacher or the school. I studied for tests even if we had other plans or I was tired. I behaved because I knew it was the right thing to do…and if I didn’t my parents would not only punish me, but worse, be disappointed in me. I never ever recall my parents saying that my behavior was dependent on whether or not I wanted to behave. I was expected to do so!

So if you are a parent with the attitude that school in general, or kindergarten in particular, is just “something your child does during the day” and you do not feel that it is in your best interest and his/hers to take an active role in education….good luck with that! Come back in ten years and tell me how that’s working for you.

(Note: I am posting this on two of my blogs- not because I’m lazy, but in hopes of reaching more parents with my message.)