Good bye 2012! Memorable moments in photos

Late January, LAST cast finally came off for poor "old lefty"!  Another 8 weeks in a long arm, hot neon  pink, "get the heck out of the way" splint.

Mid-February~having fun looking through all of the old records I had and bemoaning the fact that I could no longer listen to them. (All I had to do was wait a bit...it all changed for me, thanks to my dear friends Amy, Michael and Jan :)  Developing my "over my dead body pile!

Late March-"old lefty's" 9 month saga on the road to getting better was finally done!  Dr. Chan pronounced it as "good as it will ever get".  No more casts, no more splints :)

Mid-April-went to Mennonite Relief Sale with $500 in hand to bid on this beautiful blue quilt.  Realized when it was all over, that I was about $500 too short :(  Next year..... Just wait cause I'll be back!

Last part of May-a peaceful moment in time along the way to find my first lighthouse ever.  Owego, NY  Flowers left there in remembrance of two very special people in this life, no longer with us.

Last day of May-I found it!  The Portland Head Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  The dream of my whole lifetime was finally realized!

June-the front porch of "home, sweet home" on 14th Street in Hutchinson, Kansas.

July 4th-My first big ride since getting hurt...the 20 mile Sterling Bike Hike

First week in August-after a summer of drought conditions, we woke up to one heck of a "gully washer" in our part of the country.  How nice to see the water standing in the streets as we all woke up that day.

First week of September- My infamous attempt at being the Kansas State Fair Spelling Bee Champion-went out rather quickly it seemed.  Don Etchison, former teaching colleague at Yoder Grade School and fellow participant that day.

Mid-October~at the Haven Fall Festival with 3 of the best friends a person could ever ask for.  Annetta, Toni and Joyce.  Sitting in our "usual" spot in front of the old Grier Pharmacy building.

First of November-chasing the sunset in the last moments of the day.  From the top of Rayl's Hill, Hutchinson, Kansas.  God's handiwork at its finest of hours~

December-so thankful for a job that I love to go to each day.  What a blessing~I love being called "teacher".

Happy New Year 2013 to all of you out there.  God's blessings be upon all of you, my dear friends.

There's a first time for everything~

As the remaining days of 2012 quickly finish flying by, many of us are stopping to pause and think about what we've done all year as well as what we may think of doing in the 12  months that will soon be set before us.  For better or worse, some of us have had a more "eventful" 2012 than others and for my friends who have had a tougher year than one would have ever hoped for, may 2013 be so very much brighter.  Please do NOT give up hope that it WILL be a better one!

For me, 2012 will definitely go down in the "record book" as the year that I witnessed plenty of "firsts" in life, beginning back in early March when I moved for the very first time in my life, out of Reno County.  And although it was only for a short 3 month period of time, I called the Sedgwick County town of Valley Center my "home".  In that short span of time, I made several friends in the neighbourhood and more important than I realized, I learned a lot about myself and what I was made of along the way.  

My Valley Center home on North Abilene Street, in April after a refreshing spring rain.  I took this picture and then took off my shoes in order that I could slosh through the water with my bare feet, the first time that I did it on purpose since I was just a little kid.  Man, that was fun!

I "crossed off" the number 1 item on the "Miller Bucket List" in late May-"to travel to Maine and see my very first lighthouse ever!"  Amazingly enough, except for one flat tire on the return trip home, I had no other troubles in that over 4,000 mile round trip journey.  When I drove into the parking area next to the Portland Head Lighthouse at Cape Elizabeth, Maine it was the realization of a dream that had been years in the making.  It was a definitely "Thank you God" kind of moment.

The trip from Valley Center, Kansas to Cape Elizabeth, Maine was filled with many "firsts" along the way.  It was my first time to drive so very far away all on my own and through traffic so "fast and furious" that I had to literally close my eyes sometimes and just hope to goodness that the lane that I picked was the right one and that no other driver, crazier than I am, was right behind me.  I saw the north eastern part of the United States in all of its splendour for the first time~from the rain soaked yet beautiful village of Owego, New York to all of the people living in Massachusetts  who had no more of an idea where they were "geographically speaking" than I did.  The people of that state not being able to tell me directions anywhere because they honestly felt lost most of the time themselves, is a mystery that will never be solved by me.  And when it was all said and done, this crazy, 5-day journey to a place far away from my home taught me a valuable lesson~for the FIRST time in my life, I realized that I was quite capable of taking care of myself on my own and that even if problems would arise, I could still handle it and arrive home in one piece.  That was a great life  lesson for me~

I learned from my dear friend in Oklahoma City, Kyle Duncan, that my ophidiophobia could be lessened or even cured.  I met Kyle this summer for the very first time at his home in OKC and it was there that he introduced me to his collection of ball pythons.  It was my first time ever to not only stand next to bins that contained "real" snakes but to actually allow myself to pick one of them up and allow it to work its way around me.  Definitely was an experience and I thank my good friend Kyle for showing me that snakes were not nearly as bad as I had thought they would be.

Ok, now let me preface this photo by saying I was doing pretty well until seconds before the photo was taken.  The snake and I had a friendly and civilized agreement that was working out pretty well...I would not scream or start running around like the proverbial "chicken with its head chopped off"  if she/he would not do anything that sane people would deem "silly".  Obviously the snake had made the agreement with "fingers crossed" and at this point in time was doing what snakes do best~exploring.  As you can see by this photo, it was beginning to head right on up poor "old lefty" and I was afraid that after she ran out of arm room, the top of my head would be the next likely place.  But I made it because there was no way on God's earth that I was going to let my death certificate read, "she died because a snake scared her to death."  Kyle to the rescue!

And even though it really wasn't a "bucket list" item, I managed somehow to make friends with yet another reptilian when I met "Todd" the iguana at the home of my dear friends Sara and Tom just a few weeks back.  I had heard so many cool stories about her and what a nice thing it was to actually put "a face to the name".  I learned a lot during my stay and one of the main things was the well-cared for iguanas, just like Todd is, can make wonderful indoor pets. I had never dreamt, not even in my wildest of dreams, that one day I would stand in the same room as an iguana, let alone pet or hold one in my arms.  But for the very first time in my life, I did.  Here we are, shown below:

Ok, now this is the truth...I fell in love with "Todd" the iguana upon sight.  She has a personality all of her own and because she has been given such good and loving care all of her life, Todd is actually quite congenial.  Thanks to Sara, Tom, and "Todd" for this first in my life encounter.

Well, by next week at this time, 2012 will be "history" and we will all be off on the next "leg" of this journey through our time here together.  I made the decision last evening to shorten up my current "bucket list" (revision #1,200 or something :)  and stick with the following 5 items until I get them completed and done.  

1.  to power parachute once again
2.  to continue making my back yard more friendly for an "older person", that'd be me
3.  to continue to catch up with all of my facebook friends in person and buy them something to drink and  talk about life for awhile
4.  to journey to New York City and the village of Owego, NY in late March for a week's stay during our spring break from school
5.  to finally learn to sew something for the very first time in life
AND to follow the sage and wise advice of the truest friend I ever had, and NEVER let my bucket list go empty because it's just pretty hard to kick a full bucket.

I'm going to take a break from writing my blog now until after January 1st.  I want to say "thanks" my friends for all of the encouragement and support you have given me not only this year in 2012 but for as long as you have known me.  I gotta tell you, there is NO way I could have made it through life without the help and support of good friends.  I am beholden to you all~may someday I do for you what you have done so unceasingly for me. And you know what?  The truth of the matter is that you do those good things for me and for others, NOT in hopes of something in return for yourselves....you have done it because you know it is the good, meet and right thing to do for all of humankind.  The mark of a great friend, if I do say so myself.   Good Night!  Happy New Year in 2013 from me and my family.  May it be peaceful, healthy and prosperous beyond measure.

My New York City tour guide and the protector of "elderly aunts"~Jessica Scott, my niece
I'm afraid she doesn't know what she agreed to do LOL.

James Taylor - Song For You Far Away

I have always loved the words to this James Taylor song~it's a sad song yet really I believe a hopeful one as well.  Tonight on this Christmas Eve in the year 2012, many of us are missing loved ones who cannot be with us for the holidays.  It might be perhaps because of distances between us or even sadly, that the Christmas of 2011 was their loved one's last on Earth.  I miss my mom and dad, brother, sister and niece whose journeys here were carved out of a shorter path than mine would be.  I remember with gladness the holidays and other special times that we did spend together and in my heart, I still have faith that one day we will all be reunited together in Heaven.

For all of my dear friends and family members, I say "thank you" that you care enough about me to worry from time to time, to "yell at me" (in a nice way of course LOL) when you think I need it, and who without a doubt would always and forever be there any time I needed you.  What better gift than to know you have people who love you without conditions, no matter what?

Have a peaceful Christmas Eve night~get some good sleep and have wonderful dreams of Santa bringing you what ever it is that you asked for.  Good Night ~Let "Sweet Baby James" sing you to sleep.

Still the proud owner of Red Green's tool box~

The age-old saying, "~time flies when you are having fun~" certainly rings true today, December 24th, Christmas Eve.  With one week left on the calendar for 2012, you have to wonder at how much quicker time seems to do its proverbial "flying by" each and every year.  So much has happened to all of us in such a short span of time~changing of jobs, moving to new homes, battling illnesses and accidents, graduations, starting new careers, retirements, the sweet births of new little ones and the somber passing of others. With all that has happened in your life, what do you feel is the best thing that took place THIS year~ 2012?

You know, I remember saying last year about this time that the best thing that could have happened to me in 2011 was that I had a bike accident and busted my left arm to "smithereens".  Most people understood what I meant yet perhaps others might not have.  And if I were to say what was the best thing that happened to me in the year 2012, well then I would have to say the very same thing~having a broken arm.  I spent the first three months of this year still recovering from the accident and the surgeries that followed.  When I was dismissed in early April from Dr. Chan's care, my life was forever changed, and for me it was a change for the good.

It's going to be nice, come this January 1st, 2013 to begin a New Year~one that I hope will be called 12 months later, "the year of NO broken bones".  Since my plan is to fulfil my bucket list quest "to ride the entire Bike Across Kansas" in June of '13, it will come in quite handy to NOT have to ride with my arm in a cast.  May it be so! And by the way my dear friends, I hope that you have something in mind to look forward to as well for the year upcoming.  Even if you don't have a bucket list of your own to work on, why not choose a couple of things to think about doing?  Couldn't hurt, right?

When I was going through some of my old blog posts from a year ago this time, I came across one that was done after what my doctors thought would be my final surgery on "old lefty".  I'm reprinting it with this blog post~and although you may have already seen it, hope you don't mind reading it again.  Every once in a while, especially when I get a little forgetful about what I had to go through, it helps to read my thoughts from that time and to realize just how very far I had to come in order to get better.  Without the help of a lot of people, both the living and the dead, my poor arm might have had a very different  moniker besides "old lefty".  

Merry Christmas friends, from me and "Eleanor"......From a year ago, December of 2011

THANK GOODNESS THIS IS FROM LAST CHRISTMAS!!  LOL, NOT THAT I DON'T LIKE THE COLOUR BLUE OR ANYTHING.  HUMAN BEINGS WEREN'T MADE TO WEAR EXOSKELETONS FOREVER~

PS/When I fly to New York in March, I cannot imagine what I will sound like as I go through the metal detector.  At least I've got the x-rays and scars to prove it :)

Friday, December 16, 2011

Like Red Green's Toolbox

By the time the calendar shows the late evening hours of December 21st next week, "old lefty" will have endured 3 consecutive seasons of trying to get well after my August 4th accident.  Beginning on that fateful and early August morning and running through the autumn months of September, October, and November, well let's just say I feel like I've been around the block at LEAST twice. 

 But I'm hanging in there and hey, when I checked the obituary page of The Hutch News just a moment ago, I wasn't even listed.  I think about something that my good friend LeRoy Willis said to me once in a message and surely  you have heard it many times as well.  "Peggy, what doesn't kill you ONLY makes you stronger."  So I rejoice in the fact that I am still here and if what LeRoy says is true and the old song by Chicago says, then I shall be "Feeling Stronger Everyday."  Young people reading this, Chicago is not only an Illinois city.  It is also one of the greatest musical groups ever.  Just wanted to clear that up for you kids  :)

Yesterday actually came and went rather quickly, much to my surprise.  I slept very soundly the night before, never waking even once.  In the hours before I left, I finished up some of the last "2-handed" things that I needed to do like changing bed linens, running the vacuum, and my weekly contribution to the betterment of Hutchinson's economy--a "Wal Mart run".  So with a clean bed to lie in, a canister of dirt from the carpeting, and my $150 contribution towards the shareholders of Sam Walton's corporation, I travelled lightly.

I made it to Wichita with plenty of time to spare and before I knew it, I was being prepped for surgery.  Rather than completely being put to sleep, I received a block in the armpit that rendered "old lefty" the same as useless. Got to tell you friends, now that is the weirdest of feelings!  As I lay waiting for the trip to the O.R., I had absolutely NO clue where that arm was.  I figured it had to be perhaps across my chest but when I reached for it, no arm!  Well I knew it had to be SOMEWHERE, so I began feeling around to try and locate it.  It took a moment or two but at long last, there it was...stuck down in between the bed rails, pointing due south.  Kind of glad that it didn't try to go any further away from me.  :)

Dr. Chan and his crew had a big job ahead of them in performing what we all hope to be the final surgery on my arm.  I had the utmost of confidence in his ability to do the necessary repairs.  So with that certainty, I just closed my eyes and left the job to them.  Right before they put the drapes up to begin the surgery, I asked them to let me see "old lefty" one last time.  You know, it made me feel better to be able to look at it and see just how far I have come.  The scars alone will tell one heck of a story someday.  

Well, 90 minutes and a whole lot of other stuff later, "old lefty"  was done...the before and after x-rays tell the story better than I can....

                                                                   
                                                         Day 1-Aug. 4th

                                            
                                                 Day 133-December 15th

Remember how I mentioned once that before the first surgery the doctors kept telling me that it looked like a bomb had exploded in my arm?  Well now, I kind of think it looks like Red Green's tool box might have blown up in there instead!  By my count I see a plate that really resembles an open-end wrench, one heck of a long screw, as well as 1 really long nail (ok just a pin).  All that is left to play a game of "I Spy" would be a roll of the "Handyman's Secret Weapon", duct tape.  And by the way friends, don't give them any more ideas, ok?  If I ever get over my fear of flying I'd better plan on a whole lot more time to go through security.  Just saying... 

Well friends, nearly time for another Percocet, some lunch and one more nap.  Since I began typing this blog post at 5 this morning, I've taken a bath plus three nap breaks.  Hey only 6 hours to finish this post one-handed and with my mind in a stupor from pain killers.  I do believe that beats my record from the first time around!  Have a good rest of the Friday my friends.  I'm thinking of you all and I wish for you only the best!

And as would be said by one of my favourite TV personalities,  Red Green, "Keep your stick on the ice.  We're all pulling for you."


   

upon knowing that they grew up~

One of my ongoing "Miller Bucket List" goals has been "to meet up with each of my Facebook friends in person, buy them something to drink and talk about life for a while."  Last evening, I was afforded the opportunity to spend some time with 3 of them in McPherson.  I'd love for you to meet my friends on Facebook and my friends in "real life" as well~Michael Wilde, Amy Pratt and Jan Moyer.

Ok, this would be Michael and it warmed my "teacher's heart" to see that after all of these many long years, he hasn't changed a bit.  He's just a kid in a "40 something", older guy's body.  I love that about him.  When I first met Michael he was just an "active" sixth grade boy and I was a beginning 24-year old teacher who encountered him in the hallways as we passed for classes each day.  Although my memory from the times has dimmed a  bit, I'm sure he always walked nicely down the hall in a quiet and reserved manner but then of course, I have been called a "dreamer" before.  Hard for me to realize that Michael is now married with two fine children of his own.  He has worked hard to make a great life for himself and his family.  I could not be prouder of him and his accomplishments. 

This would be Amy, Michael's older sister.  This child, now a very grown woman with 3 kids of her own, was one of my very first students the year I began teaching at Haven Grade School back in 1979.  She has not changed in any way either, still the same sweet young lady that I remember from those many long years ago in the land of "far, far away".  Amy has done exceptionally well for herself in this life and the pride that I feel in her brother, goes equally as well for her as well.  

And last, yet certainly not the least, here's their mom, Jan Moyer.  She's been such a great friend to me over the years and I'll always remember her as being one of the very first people that I had a "parent-teacher" conference with, now well over 30 years ago.  As a teacher, I remember and acknowledge  how nice it has always been to have parents just like Jan who make it their practice to support their children's teachers in whatever they felt it necessary to do.  Jan, a proud mother and grandmother, now lives in Nebraska.  It was wonderful to see her once again.  

I received the nice "invite" from both Amy and Michael to come and meet them in McPherson last evening for supper as they and their extended family met for the first night of their weekend Christmas get together.  Even though we have all been Facebook friends for several years now, it had been way more years than I could even remember that we had seen one another in person.  My best guess is that it's been more than 25 years and since the world didn't end on December 21st as some people said it would, I thought "What the heck?  Let's do it!"

For more than 3 hours this past Friday evening, I was the guest of one of the most delightful, friendly and hospitable groups of people you could ever have imagined.  Even though I initially knew only 3 people, by the time I had gathered up my things to head back to Hutch I knew about 15 more of them.  And you know what?  It felt nice~  There was food galore, a multitude of conversations to join in with, lots of laughter and thanks to my dear little friend Michael, plenty of games to be played.  

Friends, you know I learned something last night....no wait a minute, let me rephrase that.  I was reminded of something that I already knew but all too often forget about.  I may not have been related by "blood" to one single soul there last night at their annual Christmas gathering.  But that didn't matter because people like Amy, Michael, and Jan are all of the belief that dear friends, even ones you haven't seen in forever and "a bunch of Sundays" are like family members in different ways.  And to you, 3 of my dearest of friends, I say "thank you" for that sobering reminder. To ALL of the great folks that were there last evening at that beautiful and festive home on Turkey Creek Drive, "Thanks for including me and making me feel as if I truly belonged there."  (a big fat lump in my throat as I write these words)

I long ago stopped trying to keep track of just how many students I've had the privilege to teach over the course of more than 35 years.  Maybe a thousand?  Maybe more?  I would love to tell you that I remember each of them by name, but I'm afraid that is not the case. You know, I used to think that it was a terrible thing to be a teacher who spent 9 months with a child yet couldn't recall their name in the years to come.  Now, I have come to know that it's "life" and also that I'm not the only teacher it affects that way. But for every one of those students' names that I've tucked away in the very back of my "teacher's memory bank", there are just as many of whom I will NEVER forget their names.  Michael Wilde and Amy Pratt are two of them.  

Well, the clock on the wall says that it's already nigh onto nearly 7:30.  The day has gone so quickly.  Before closing this post, Amy and Michael~the message below is for you in "particular" but also as well to ANY student I have had the privilege and blessing to know in this life of mine.  
And so, for what it's worth:

"You two kids!  I thought about you all the way home last evening and actually you have been on my mind today as well.  I want you to know something~(and pretty dang good thing I've got Kleenix aplenty as I do this) I love you two children with all of my "teacher's heart".  I am so proud of both of you and what you have made of your lives.  I know it's not always easy, in fact it's pretty tough sometimes to grow up in this world of ours.  As a teacher, all I could do was to prepare you the best I could yet I knew that you would have to learn so very much of life's lessons alone and on your own.  The best laid plans sometimes go astray~and as they say, "that proverbial pile of  #$%% happens" and about the only thing you can do is just to keep going and "soldiering" on.  Listen to me and know that I speak the truth when I tell you both this~My heart is absolutely filled and running over with pride for you both.  I'm going to repeat that again,  just in case you weren't paying attention (LOL, LOL all right it's the teacher in me).....  I could not feel any prouder of you than I do right now.  I only met you as a "first year" teacher~heck, I didn't know what I was doing about 50% of the time.  And although you never realized it Amy, I was as confused about math sometimes as you were!  But here's how we made it~We held hands and we stuck together.  I am so glad to have been a part of both of your lives then and wow, ever so glad to continue to be a part of your lives on December 22, 2012. May God bless you both, your families as well.  I'm always "pulling for you" and even though we may find ourselves miles apart, "Mrs. Miller" (LOL) will always "have your backs".  And by the way, one last thing~Those soft and kind hearts that both of you have?  Don't ever lose them, no matter what life deals you or others around you.  They "define" you and make you the persons that you were destined to become.  Have I told you that I love you?  If I have, then consider it told once again :) ~Peggy

PS/Thank you for the gift of the new record player.  I have felt like a kid in high school "all over" again today.  Listen, can you hear it playing in the background?  I'm listening to the song "Woodstock" by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young on their album called "Deja Vu".  What, you never heard of them?  Ah, it's ok~some day we shall listen to it together.  Good night!

New York City~here I come, I guess~

It's a long, long ways from my home on the edge of the High Plains of Kansas to the quaint New England village of Owego, New York~1,352.2 miles away to be exact according to the good folks at Mapquest.  It's an even further piece up the road  from Hutch to New York City~1,409.8 miles, give or take a tenth of a mile or two.  Far enough away that a person wanting to get there from here wouldn't fare too well by walking the distance.  And if you are really limited on time, then flying isn't just ONE of the available options, it's nearly always the BEST option for getting there.  The only problem is, if you suffer from aerophobia like I do, then that's easier said than done. 

One of the newest items on my "Miller Bucket List" has been the following~
"To get over my fear of flying and make a journey to New York City to visit my niece, Jessica."

According to the calendar, and it's NOT the Mayan one by the way, I've got about 3 months ahead of me in which to prepare myself.  So what I'm saying is, here goes nothing :) because during the last week in March, that's just what I intend to do.  

I have lived my entire 57 years of being in the very same little spot on the earth, Reno County, Kansas.  I never left here, not for college or marriage, not after getting divorced,  heck hardly even for trips and vacations.  As the 6th kid out of seven who was born into a Kansas farming family, I guess I've never felt the need to look any further than the land where I came from in the first place.  So far, that's worked out pretty well for me,  well at least until this crazy "bucket list" idea was conceived.

Last May at the end of the school term, I took a 4,000 mile round trip journey to fulfill the #1 item on my bucket list, "To travel to Maine and see a lighthouse for the very first time."  On my way there, I travelled through the "Empire State", New York,  and in the southern tier of counties I found the most beautiful village named Owego and it was there that I spent a day and night.  I found it to be the most enchanting of places, a "fairy tale" kind of place and when I left in the early morning darkness of May 29th, I vowed that one day I would come back again.  As it turns out, that special day will be sometime during the last week of March.  

Come the spring time when I visit Owego, I will hope to bring along a sample of what life is like in Kansas for some very special New York  kids at St. Patrick School.  Some of their  students have become pen pals with some of our students here at my home school, Lincoln Elementary.  I look forward to meeting them and their teachers in person and perhaps even getting to spend part of the day with them in class.  While I'm in the village, I want to walk down the bridge that spans the Susquehanna River as you enter Owego, to go back to the top of Cemetery Hill and look down upon the land below. My plan is to take more books for the children's reading section of Coburn Free Library and to spend some time within it, soaking up the ambiance of what a "true" library looks like and smells like.   It's still up in the air if I will desire to see the infamous "dead man's curve".  I can tell you this, Eddie Rabbit may well  have "Loved a Rainy Night", but I've heard too many spooky stories about what happens on rainy nights when you visit THAT famous Owego landmark.  It will probably have to be a "let's don't and say that we did" kind of moment.

And then, well then there's New York City.  When my dear niece, Jessica Scott, left her home in Kansas and headed to the Northeast after graduation from KU, I thought she was perhaps "crazy".  Why on earth would anyone want to leave the quiet, peaceful and serene setting of life in the Midwest and call the hustling/bustling home of nearly 9,000,000 people their OWN new home?  But Jessica did and she loves it there, she thrives there.  For quite a while she has encouraged me to try to come and visit and every time she has mentioned it, I've had a gazillion different excuses why it would not be a good thing for her frail and elderly Aunt Peggy, LOL,  to do so.  And now, well now I think I have run out of excuses.  So before the next thing that I run out of in this life is "time", I might just as well make the journey to the "city" as well as the journey to the "village".

There's a lot to accomplish between now and the last week of March and fortunately for me, I am not traveling there alone.  My nearly 22-year old daughter, Ursela Hemman, will be making the trip  with me.  She's well experienced in travel and I've left most of the transportation arrangements up to her to make the decisions on.  My Ursela is "fearless" and she enjoys the challenge of travelling to new places and meeting new people.  She did NOT get that character trait from her mother, a statement of fact that you can "take to the bank".  

There's much I would desire to see there and perhaps some of you who have made the journey before can suggest some of your favourite places to check out.  From riding the city's subway system to standing on the sacred spot called "Ground Zero" and everything else in between, I'm pretty sure it will be a culture shock to this school teacher from the Midwest.  And even though the whole prospect of it all is pretty dang scary to me at this moment in time, I know that once I get on that plane and actually go, I'll find out that I really haven't had any need to fear about flying OR visiting the busy metropolis endearingly known as the "Big Apple".    When I return, there will be stories aplenty to tell.

Well, day is done and night time has fallen.  My hope is that all of you have had a good day, that some how you have been blessed in this life, for I know that I have been.  The Kansas forecast is for some precipitation to show up in the next 24 hours.  Will we see snow?  That's anyone's guess I suppose.  Living here through more than two years of dry conditions, we shall take whatever we can get, whenever we can get it.  And even in the littlest, most insignificant of things we do give thanks.

Good night friends and family!

When this photo was taken, I had no idea that little sweet baby girl with the reddish brown hair would one day go with her mom to New York City.  22 years later, I'm sure glad that she is able to go along with me to keep me out of trouble! 

With my niece, Jessica, at home in Haven, Kansas during the Christmas season a few years back. I used to help watch over her from time to time....now I have to ask her to help watch over me for a few days in the very big city.  Surely I can't get too lost, can I?

The Coburn Free Library, Owego, New York~a "library's library"...a treat to all of the senses.  I cannot wait to return there once again.

If a person could ever "fall in love" with the front door of a church, well this would be the one.  The entrance to the First Presbyterian Union Church of Owego.

The bridge over the mighty Susquehanna River leading into Owego.  The first sight that visitors encounter upon arrival.  Seeing it for the first time, now 6 months ago, "hooked" me into the realization that Owego was a great place to visit and well worth the time it takes to get there.





 


 

Upon what is the most important thing to be teaching our children

There is a wonderful book, written for young people, by the author Doris Buchanan Smith, entitled "Taste of Blackberries."  For those of you who have never heard of it, it's about an 11-year old boy whose best friend Jamie dies after having an allergic reaction to a bee sting.  The book is not the kind of book that makes you feel happy, you won't find yourself laughing non-stop as you read through the pages.  It's a sad book, one that makes you feel a lot of empathy towards the one boy (only referred to as the narrator of the book) who must face life alone without his very best friend in the world to be there beside him.  I've read it many times with children over the course of 35 + years in education and still consider it to be my favourite book to teach children from.  Each time that I read it with a new group of students, I am continually amazed at what children really know about and question over the subject of death and dying.  In light of the shootings yesterday in Connecticut, I almost didn't write this blog post.  But at the last minute, I changed my mind because I firmly believe with all of my heart that we CAN and DO learn from children every single day.

Please, if you would-meet 3 of my 5th grade students at Lincoln Elementary~Tre, Emma and Matt.  Here were are yesterday after they presented their special projects about their "connection" to the story "Taste of Blackberries."

As a Title I teacher at Lincoln Elementary, I see small groups of students from Kindergarten to 6th grade each day.  I work with small groups of kids in both reading and math.  You know, I kind of like my job in that respect because I get the chance to see all kinds of different kids each and every day.  Even if it's only for 30 minutes, I still get the opportunity to "bond" with them and help them in areas where they may be struggling.  Hey listen, I hardly ever think about the fact that my job is what it is but yesterday one of my fifth grade students asked me when I was EVER going to be a REAL teacher.  I was taken aback at first but then I realized what they meant..when was I ever going to have my own classroom?  Oh Art Linkletter, you had it right...Kids DO say the darndest things.

Well, about a month ago, this little group of folks started reading Smith's book, "Taste of Blackberries" and what could have easily been read and taught by me in a week or so, ending up taking the better part of a full month.  Now it wasn't because we were fooling around or anything mind you, because we weren't.  Each of the book's 8 chapters lend themselves to some serious discussion on this matter of "living and dying".  Because the characters in the story, Jamie and the narrator, were so close in age to the 5th grade students that I was working with, I found the kids beginning to relate to the characters in a way that I never dreamt possible.  We had many good class discussions about what it means to choose a friend and how those two friends stick together through just about most anything.  

I warned Emma, Tre and Matt from the "get go" that this book was going to be a sad one, that it would be a book that would make them think and that some of that thinking would involve sadness.  As we went through each chapter, from the beginning when the boys were doing fun stuff together, to the time that Jamie got stung by a couple of bees and died because of an allergic reaction outdoors one day, and to the end where Jamie's funeral and burial occurred, those 3 kids asked some of the greatest questions that I've ever encountered.  And has been the case throughout my teaching career, I learned more from those 3 kids than they would ever learn from me.  

As a culminating project of our finishing the book, I asked the kids to make a connection between the loss that the narrator felt in losing his best friend Jamie to something they had experienced in their lives.  I didn't give them much guidance, only that they should choose someone (person or even a pet) who had died and make a "9 square" memory poster of them to present to the rest of their classmates on this past Friday.  They worked very hard to come up with a poster to present and just yesterday, late in the afternoon, they showed the rest of their classmates the posters they had made and gave a great book review of the story.  I could not have been prouder of them.

One by one they spoke and even though I knew exactly what they were going to say,  having heard it many times before as they practiced, I could not help but be moved to tears.  I must tell you, I've taught a whole bunch of lessons in this life of mine but this is the first time in a long, long while that I felt like crying.  Thank goodness their classroom teacher saw what was happening because she rescued me with a kleenix~and by the way, I wasn't crying because I was sad for them.  I was crying because my heart was filled with pride for what they had done with an assignment from a book that some might have thought too difficult for kids to understand.

When it was all over, I asked them to return to my classroom with me for a moment so we could take the photo.  Before I let them go, I told them one last thing.  I looked at each of them, square in the eyes.  I took their faces in my hands and said the same thing to each of them, one at a time.  "I love you and I am so proud of you for what you just did in front of your classmates."  I believe they learned a life lesson.

I don't pretend to know anything about teaching kids, really I don't.  Even though I've been at it for close now to 4 decades (must have begun teaching at age 13, LOL), every year I feel like in many ways I am starting over as a "newbee".  Things change quite often in education and it takes a lot of work to keep up with it all.  I'm forever going to the "youngsters" on the teaching faculty and asking questions like, "Do you know what this means to do?"  I strive for excellence in the students that I am entrusted with.  I want them to be the best of readers and mathematicians, to understand science, social studies, languages and technology.  What teacher would NOT want that for their students?  I desire strongly that my students, any child entrusted to me for learning, should excel and go to the highest points in life possible.  But having said all of that, this is what I will say to my dying day~the last breath that comes from within me.......

"The very best lessons that teachers can teach students are never going to be found written down in the lesson book.  They will never be found in the latest curriculum guide or on the Power Point presentation of a high dollar consultant.  NO, the greatest lesson that a child can learn are those from life itself."
                               the "gospel" according to Peggy Miller

  It will be those "life lessons" that make or break a student and show what I believe their true character shall be.  For the 3 students I worked with in reading this book, I believe they learned a life lesson by sharing a part of their life with others that they had never really thought of doing.  It takes some courage to stand in front of your peers and openly admit that you miss your grandpa to pieces or that you had to lose a pet to some disease called "Parvo virus".  And to do it without crying?  Well, that's courageous in and of itself.

You know, I didn't even realize the shootings had occurred in Connecticut until the very end of the day.  As I sat there looking at it on CNN I had to think of all the students that I come in contact with each and every day at our school Lincoln Elementary.  Sometimes in the rush of the day, with a thousand other things that have to be done, even the best of teachers will forget just how precious the time is with our students.  I know that when Monday morning rolls around again, I'm going to be connecting with some of the best kids around, our students.  I love my students, I love being a teacher and I'd bet that you'd find the same thing among every other person out there who teaches as well.  I cannot even imagine what it would be like to endure that kind of tragedy and I pray to never have to find out.  

Well, this day is done and night time has definitely swallowed up our part of the earth.  Feeling better now after having come down with this mysterious "what ever" ailment it is that has been hitting people right and left.  Made it home from school yesterday only to find myself in bed and sleeping for 15 hours straight.  I think Oblio was beginning to wonder if she was going to have to start feeding herself or something.  Eyelids are a little sleepy now, so probably will call it a night before too late in the evening.  For this night, I feel blessed beyond measure my 3 children, all grown up now, are safe and sound.  Prayers going up from this house on 14th Street for all of the families who are not so fortunate this night.  Always wishing for and praying thus for the world to FINALLY be at peace.  What an idea~will it ever happen?

Dan Fogelberg - Leader Of The Band (Live - 1991)

                  For my father, John B. Scott, Jr.~January 30, 1923 to December 11, 1982

Rest in Heavenly Peace, Daddy.   I love you very much and even though I miss you, I know that we will meet in Heaven again one day.  Taking comfort in the fact that I am your "living legacy".  Your blood runs through me and my children and all the generations to follow us.  With thanks for giving me my name and raising me up in this life.  So hard to imagine it's been 30 years ago today that you left us.

For the love of a "Chatty Cathy"

Her name was "Chatty Cathy" and to the little 8-year old girl that I used to be, she was all that I ever wanted that Christmas of 1963.  I had never seen one before the Friday that one of the other little third grade girls brought hers to school for "show and tell" day but from the moment I laid my blue eyes upon her and listened to hear her sweet little voice say "Please take me with you.",  I loved her.  But alas, Santa didn't leave her for me under the tree that year, or EVER for that matter and you know, even now 49 Christmases later I still feel a "twinge" of sadness that the beautiful doll with blonde hair and blue eyes never did make her way into my little arms.

Even though I never found her under the tree, I cannot recall a Christmas that any of the 7 kids in my family found nothing waiting for them on the morning of the 25th.  I am positive that some years were "leaner" than others,  yet my parents somehow always  managed to scrape up the money needed to provide a nice holiday for their children.  Without fail and surely  with some sacrifice of things for themselves, we were provided for.  It was only after I had grown into a young mother with  3 kids of my own that my mom told me the real truth about our family not having all that much money at times.  My parents would have gladly bought a "Chatty Cathy" for me that year but the truth of the matter was that we could not have afforded it.  I would only be able to admire her from the arms of another little girl instead.  For struggling farming families, just like mine and so very many others, there was only so much money to go around.  Our parents' utmost priority, just like everyone else's, was to make sure that our 7 hungry mouths were always fed and for that, this "kid" will always be grateful.

I have thought of my own upbringing many times during the course of my 35 years in education.  Every chance I have gotten to share the Laura Ingalls Wilder book, Little House on the Prairie,  I have done so with my students.  I always made a "connection" between my life as a child at Christmas time and that of Laura's.  In Laura's story, Pa and Ma Ingalls and the 3 little girls have made it to their first Christmas on the south eastern Kansas prairie.  Talk about your "lean years", well Charles and Caroline Ingalls were smack dab in the middle of one.  There was little money at all to provide a gift for the girls' Christmas of 1869.  Rather than empty Christmas stockings, Ma had baked a little sugar cake for each, knitted a pair of  warm red mittens, and placed a penny inside the toe of each of their stockings.  As they wait for their Christmas dinner to finish cooking, they are paid a surprise visit from Mr. Edwards, their friend and neighbour,  who is said to have crossed the near frozen Verdigris River in order to make their Christmas delivery from old Santa himself.  When Laura, Mary and Carrie are each presented candy and a shiny tin cup to drink from, it is as though the entire toy department of the Macy's store has been delivered to the Kansas prairie.   I always have asked my students, after I read the chapter, if they believe they could have been  happy if that was indeed all that they received for Christmas from their parents one year.  Most are quite honest in their replies~"Uhmm, no I don't think I would like that Mrs. Miller."  If I am honest with myself, I must acknowledge the fact that I would have said the very same thing at their age.  

In just about 2 weeks time, the Christmas season will have come to a stop.   The Sunday Hutchinson News will be filled with ads, NOT about the latest toys and gadgets for kids and adults alike, but rather with everything you ever needed to get your body back in shape and your life more organized.  Seems as if there is a season to sell anything and everything these days and that's just the way that life is.   Without a doubt, February's offering of Valentines for those you love is already on a fork lift somewhere in the Wal Mart storage area, just waiting to be placed on the shelves come December 26th.  This life of ours, oh how quickly it passes by us.  Are you like me?  Do you sometimes want to yell "Slow down and I mean it!"?  I knew I wasn't alone on that one.

The clock on the wall here at home is nearing the 8 o'clock hour and my eyelids are in need of a toothpick if I try to stay up much longer.  It has been a good day, one filled with many blessings everywhere I have been today.  And as a parting note, to all of those from my generation.....Does the photo below mean anything special to you?  Take a peek, perhaps it will.

I never failed as a little kid growing up to watch this wonderful show that was aired on Sunday afternoons about 5:00 on KAKE TV/Channel 10 out of Wichita, Ks.  That's the now "sainted" Henry Harvey (AKA Santa Claus) with his little helper KAKEman.  They provided the countdown to Christmas  and gave "good" boys and girls the chance to have a sneak peek at all of the wonderful things that Santa could possibly bring to them.  I can remember watching it every year and heck, I even watched it in high school.  Hey, come on people~admit it~some of you did the same.  In his very best "Santa voice", Henry Harvey would close the show every night with the saying that he and the reindeer would soon be "ZOOMING AROUND THE BIG WIDE WORLD."  

I believed him then and I still believe in him today.  Just TRY to talk me out of it~dare you :)  Good night everyone and a peaceful rest and good sleep to each of you.

That little tiny 3 year old girl with the pig tails sitting on her sister's lap?  She believed~

That 8-year old girl with the big eyes?  She believed~

                                  And yes, that 21-year old girl STILL believed. 

                                Shoot, the way I figure it....why stop believing now?

Upon using this day for something to remember life by

Greetings friends and family from the north eastern corner of the great state of Kansas.  I'm spending the night here with my good friend Sara Grier and her husband Tom Pistorius.  We're just a "stone's throw" from the "Show Me" state of Missouri and my own home in the flatlands of south central Kansas is a little more than 3 hours away.  Sara and I had decided to see how much fun we could pack into a little under 24 hours of time to enjoy together and suffice it to say, we have had a great day.  Now as the day is coming to a close and bedtime near, I'm so very glad that I made the journey here early this morning.

Sara and I grew up together in our hometown of Haven, Kansas.  Our parents both owned businesses there~Paul and Nita Grier, Sara's parents, owned the Haven Pharmacy.  My parents, John and Lois Scott, owned the local restaurant and filling station.  (for you young "kids" a filling station was the 1970's version of the Kwik Shop, only with a LOT more service provided!)  Both Sara and I have spoken many times about how wonderful it was to be a kid growing up in a place like Haven.  It was a place where every adult in town "parented" every kid, not just their own and I believe with all my heart, that neither of us would have wished to be raised in any other place.

When I pulled out of the driveway of my home of 14th Street this morning, I headed the car straight for Lawrence where we'd all meet up at the home of Sara's mom, Nita Grier.  I'd heard yesterday from Nita that she was cooking up a pot of her very delicious homemade chicken and rice soup and boy did that ever taste good on a somewhat cool December day in Kansas.  All 5 of us, Sara and her mom as well as Sara's brother Jim and his wife Nancy found our places around the table set up in Nita's dining room.  And when the Doxology was sung, we all held hands with one another and you know what?  It felt kind of nice~  We shared food and stories until we could hold no more.  Here some of us are around the table.

After lunch, two of Nita's dear friends came by and for the next 3 + hours we all sat at the table and had lots of fun playing games  and although my students at school would not believe it could be done, all of the games we played were done without the use of technology.  There were no discs to load, no buttons to push, heck nothing had to be even plugged in.  We used the the "computers" that God has given us, our brains!  And the amazing thing was this~We all had a great time!  As I sat there as a participant I had to wonder how much different, how much better life could be for all of us if people turned off their computers, shut off the television, and put away their cell phones in order that they could enjoy time spent in fellowship with and having fun alongside others.  Here's the crew enjoying a well-deserved snack time.

Since leaving Nita's home in Lawrence and heading due east towards Sara and Tom's, I've had some pretty amazing experiences.  I met the most lovable girl, the "resident iguana" named Todd, that you could ever imagine.  I had heard stories about her from Sara over the past couple of years and I figured that now was as good a time as any to meet her, so tonight I did.  You know I always figured she would be scary but she was not.  I didn't even know if I could pet her, let alone hold her.  But it worked out great!  I think we can say that we are friends~

I've done a whole lot of "firsts" in the short time that I've been here.  Sara made a delicious soup for supper called "butternut squash" soup.  Never thought I'd like something like that but it was absolutely the best.  I'd never stood up close, right next to a Newfoundland dog~the kind of dog I always refer to as a "horse of a dog" but Sara and Tom's dog "Boss Man" was a member of the two-canine greeting party that met me at the door.  And believe it or not, at age 57 years old, I saw my first glimpse of this "thing" I've heard people speaking of for years, Kansas City's "Plaza".  It was beautiful and something unlike any other thing my eyes have ever beheld.  I kind of realized how the infamous "Clampett Family" felt when they left the hills of Tennessee and espied their new home in Beverly Hills, California.  So, ok I guess you could suffice it to say that I don't get out a whole lot.  

Tomorrow in the early morning hours I will head back to the part of Kansas that I know and love the best~my home in the Reno County Kansas town of Hutchinson.  There the roads are level and you can see about as far as forever.  In my part of the world, the worst traffic jams occur when the westbound trains block the tracks on Main Street for too long and traffic backs up to the next stop light.  And you know friends, I've had the best day and laughed more than I've laughed for a long time.  But even as nice as it has been to be with my dear friends today, I know where I will always call home and that place, according to Mapquest, is 212 miles away.  Praying for a safe trip to return there tomorrow.

And before I say "good night"...one final thing.  You know if this would have been what I call a "normal" Saturday, I'd have been home all day cleaning house, working on school work and running errands.  I'd have been busy, to be sure.  There's a lot of work waiting for me to do when I make it home around late morning tomorrow.  A "small" part of me feels guilty for not staying home today to get things done.  But here's the deal~I could have stayed home all day and got things accomplished but the crazy thing is this....in a couple of days time I'd just have to do them all over again and for what?  To do them all over AGAIN in another few days?  No way~I preach everyday that we should live each day as if it is our last one on earth and if this WAS my last day on earth, then I'm glad that I was able to spend it with friends like the Grier Family.  

To Nita, Sara and Tom, Jim and Nancy~thanks for allowing me to be a part of YOUR family today.  I was blessed by the experience on this the 8th day of December in the year 2012.  Wow, truly a great day to be alive in!  Good night all.

Thanks for the great meal Sara!  If you have never tried butternut squash soup, well then what are you waiting for?  It's delicious!  

Upon having tried to make a difference~

I'm pretty sure that when "Peggy Miller" is long gone from the earth, her 3 children won't have millions of dollars in the bank to fight over and believe me, they aren't expecting it.  Ursela and Grahame Hemman and Ricky Miller grew up as the children of a Kansas public school teacher and they have known, ever since their first allowance, that teachers don't make a fortune....not even close to one.  I always figured it was better to tell them early on...  LOL.... rather than keeping it a secret.   Didn't want to get their hopes up for an underground swimming pool or a trip to Hawaii that more than likely wouldn't happen.  But they survived and so did I.

I have said so many times in life, as I've written this blog and in conversations with others, that the vocation of being a school teacher is considered to be of the "ultimate calling" to me.  It's an honour and a privilege to be called to teach and a calling that I take very seriously every day.  What we might not receive in "hefty" monthly pay checks, we MORE than receive in the "bonus checks" we get nearly every day of the week and I could not be more satisfied.  Tonight was a good example.

I just returned home a moment ago from attending an annual event to benefit the Boys' and Girls' Club here in Hutchinson.  The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center's lobby was filled to the brim with "club" kids, their vision leaders, family and some wonderful folks who are the benefactors of so very many kids in our town.  The young students at our school, Lincoln Elementary are some of those kids.  The "Steak for a Stake" fundraiser is done annually to help provide the funds to keep the local clubs operating and by the looks of it, our young kids have a lot of people standing behind them.  

Several of the club members were seated at the various tables and it was their responsibility to help the other guests dining with them to understand what Boys' and Girls' Club has done for them.  I was very fortunate to be sitting with a young man that I've known ever since he was a little kindergarten kid at Avenue A Elementary.  Now he's a fourth grader at my current school, Lincoln, and what a delight to spend an extraordinary evening  with him.  Meet my young friend, Giovanni~

Sitting next to Giovanni was like sitting next to a grown-up.  I was so very proud of him for his manners at the table. (heck, he knew more than I did about what you use all of those fancy forks for)  He showed me the fine art of "napkin usage" and explained to me that sometimes when you cut into steak that you will find gristle.  If you find the gristle, then you need to find a nice way to get rid of it.  Giovanni is like a walking "encyclopaedia" and if that young man has read it in a book somewhere (and believe me, he reads all the time) then it is engrained in his brain from now until the end.  I knew the conversation would be interesting when the first thing he said to me was "Mrs. Miller, did you know that you and the person sitting next to you at any given time share 99.9% of the same DNA?"  Well, no Giovanni, can't say that I did.  

It was kind of strange as we sat there waiting for the meal to begin that I noticed a nice looking fellow sitting a couple of tables away from me.  He looked familiar and after staring at him for a bit, he turned to look at me and then I knew!  He caught sight of me and before I knew it we were standing alongside one another and I recognized immediately who he was.  My "old teacher's heart" was happy and I'm sure I had a smile on my face as I recognized Brad Fry, a former student of mine in the first and second grade at Yoder Grade School.  Now nearly 34 years old, he's married with a child of his own but he still remembered me and how blessed I felt to be able to give him a hug again.  Here we are...  and either Brad grew a LOT or I was never tall to begin with.

Tonight was "bonus check" time for this school teacher~I got to spend the evening with current students and reconnected with a former student from the land of "long ago and far, far away".  There is nothing that could reward an educator any more, at least in my books, than to find out that former students have done well for themselves AND that they remember you with respect, love and kindness.  Brad Fry~I'm proud of you for the man you became and for all of the things this life will yet promise you.  And to little Giovanni~well, YOUR life is just starting and my prayer for you young man, is that you would find happiness and be able to achieve the very lofty goals that you have already set for yourself.  I'm betting you will make it~and I'd "lay" my teacher's pay check on that one.

The day is done and in just a few hours I'll be heading out the door again for another day of school.  I never refer to it as "work"~that word just doesn't fit right.  Our school is full of kids that deserve every chance in this world to receive the best education they could possibly get.  Lincoln Elementary is not alone.  Having never figured I'd spend 35 years at this profession, I pray every morning to make a difference to some kid along the way.  I've been blessed and I thank God every day to say that I am a teacher.  I hope that in your life, you have been blessed by a teacher as well.  

I came into the world with "nothing" and I shall leave the same.  Thank you God for the little people I have been entrusted with.  Always hope to be remembered for having tried my best to help them learn.  

Good night friends!