My First Grade Teacher

This past weekend I went back to my home town to help my father install a new computer system for their business.  While I was there we went out to eat at one of my favorite spots there and I just happened to run into my First grade teacher - Mrs. Sheffield.

I fondly remember most of my Elementary school teachers - In Kindergarten I had the beautiful Miss. Lee who was a new teacher that year and we had a wonderful time. In First Grade I had Mrs. Sheffield who always had soft hugs and a friendly smile. In the Second grade I had Mrs. Chambers who was so kind and soft-spoken. She read The Boxcar Children books to us and they really captivated the entire class.  But that is a different story. Back to Mrs. Sheffield.

I saw her sitting down with two other older women. I walked over and knelt down to speak with her. "Mrs. Sheffield, do you remember me?" I asked her. Clearly she did. She asked how I was doing, how old my children were. I told her about my oldest son wanting to see my old school and of my telling him about my teachers back when I was a boy.

She asked about my hair (or lack of it) and what I was up to now.  She told me that she was ninety two years old! I remembered crying at her husband's funeral and giving her a hug then. 

If I had to put a name on the relationship I had with most of my teachers back then I would have to say Mom - not a replacement mother to be sure, but more of a surrogate with a greater degree of closeness than an aunt or uncle.  And now that I am older I would have to say Grandmother is an accurate description of my feelings for my former teachers. There is a bit of reverence there, a degree of respect due to the wonderful, selfless work done by these fine people.  Mrs. Sheffield cared for me during that time - she loved me and I loved her back. I still do.

So after we chit chat a bit she turns to her eating companions and introduces me and these are the words that come out of Grandmother Sheffield's mouth:

"Hey girls, this is Tim. I taught this knucklehead!"



Thanks grandma, I love you too.