~upon saying "farewell" to both the living and the dead~

Hello everyone on this the 27th day of April, already!  It was only yesterday that I turned the calendar page over from the last day of March and now by mid-week coming next it will be time to flip on over to the beautiful month of May.  At month's end, Mike and I will be headed out to a new life together in Colorado.  Between now and then, there is still much to do and some days I'm not sure how it will all be finished.  But I'm going to stick with it and little by little, things will get crossed off my ever growing "to do" list.  

You know, there's a special place that I wanted to visit before leaving here at the end of the school year and thankfully it is close by me.  I wanted to go and pay my respects to many old friends of mine from the "land of long ago and far, far away".   And so today, I finally made that happen.  Surely glad that I did.

Laurel Cemetery, located between the Reno County, Kansas towns of Haven and Yoder, is a quiet and peaceful place of rest for many folks who have ties to the Haven community.  It's a pastoral kind of setting, nestled among Amish farming ground with fields of wheat all around it.  There is little traffic, save the occasional horse and buggy or steel wheeled tractor that from time to time drives by.  The traffic of Kansas Highway 96, the four-lane that runs between Hutchinson and Wichita and points onward, is about the only sound you will hear.  And even that doesn't seem so bad or disturbing most of the time.  

I've paid many visits to Laurel Cemetery over the years and have always found it quite easy to end up becoming "lost" among the graves.  You know how it is~you go intending to visit just a couple of folks and then before you know it you're out there walking all over the place and finding people that you didn't even realize were there.  As a little kid, Mom and my Grandmother Brown taught me early on in life that going to the cemetery should never be a scary thing, that a visit to a graveyard could actually become a history lesson if you would only listen to the stories that the voices of the dead and the epitaphs on the gravestones would tell.  Decoration Day (what I grew up calling the holiday now referred to as "Memorial Day") was a special time at our house. For weeks in advance, empty tin cans and glass jars were washed and saved to be repurposed as containers for each grave.  Flowers were always rounded up early and I can recall my mom, her sisters, and my grandmother cutting roses, Sweet Williams, peonies, and irises the day beforehand and having iceboxes that smelled of  the most delightful floral scent.  For those of you scratching your heads and wondering about that term "icebox"....well, it's a refrigerator only way more special.  You're just too young to know :)

Today's visit was a memorable one for me and as I walked along the rows and paths of the graves of so very many people that I knew from growing up in Haven, I couldn't help but to be touched by the memories of some pretty remarkable folks.  It was my privilege, my honour to have known them and even though they have been dead and gone from this earth for many years now, I will never forget them or the great influence they had on a quiet and shy young girl named Peggy.   You know, I could probably fill up a thousand pages with the names and stories of all the Haven people, now departed, that influenced me in one way or another.  They were all special to me in their own different ways.  But for now, I wish for you to meet at least some of them and to know a small piece of their story.  They are just seven of many. 

Elisabeth (Betty) Harris was the most wonderful 4th grade teacher a kid could have.  I was blessed to call her "Mrs. Harris" for the 1964-65 school term.  I remember her being kind and loving but also strict when she needed to be.  I can still hear how her voice sounded as she taught all of us kids that year.  It was in her classroom that I learned the importance of paying attention because she would give us "pop quizzes" with a degree of regularity.  I acquired a love for reading and spelling that year and a great disdain for Scholastic Weekly Reader.  She always had a bag of suckers tucked away into her desk drawer and any kid who got a "100" on a test of any kind could always come up to get one as their reward.  She loved us children and we loved her right back.   I was blessed to begin my first year of teaching at Haven Grade School, way back in 1979.  Betty was still there and would continue on for another couple of years.  What a privilege it was to teach alongside her and still continue to learn from her.  Even after she finally retired, I tried to keep in touch as much as I could.  She would have been 81 years of age just a few short months from her death in 1999.

To look at someone's gravestone and see the same year as you were born upon it, is a sobering experience.  This is my friend Bobbie (Venters) Loehr and to me her passing in 2009 was one of my first "wake up" calls of life's brevity on this earth.  I was a couple of weeks older than her and I remember her friendship in the 8th grade and on through high school.  She was a nice girl who grew into a fine woman with children of her own.  The class of 1973, of which both Bobbie and I were from, has already lost 4 of its members by my count.  As kids, you know how it goes.  You are carefree, free spirited, and totally oblivious to just how short sometimes our lives really are.  Only 54 when she died, Bobbie Loehr will be remembered always in the years to come.  I'm glad that she was my friend.

Rex McMurray was my social studies teacher in the 7th and 8th grade, Haven Grade School.  I always liked him but have to admit I really wasn't all that interested in social studies.  That stuff just didn't make any sense, boring at times but I continued to struggle through it.  I would have barely made a "C" in that class if it were not for one special thing~Current Event Fridays.  Every Friday, Mr. McMurray would toss out the lesson plan for the day and just simply talk about the world in its current state of unrest.  I loved current events and thus I LIVED for Fridays and the opportunity they provided to bring my "ailing" social studies grade up to at least a "B".  It was the time of the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, the unrest of race riots all across the country, and the ever present war in Vietnam.  Mr. McMurray knew how to teach the students in his class about keeping up with what was happening right then and there in time.  I got to teach with Mr. McMurray as well that first year  I came back.  What a great experience to learn from a master teacher about how I could be a better educator.    In the years to come, far into the future, I would help to take care of him when he entered the same care facility that I was working at as a CNA.  He was still sharp as a tack and tall as ever!  He inspired me to keep trying no matter what.  I thank him for that.

Bill Perriman, as far as I am concerned, was a true saint!  This very man and his equally dear wife Irma, opened the doors to their home to any kid who was in the neighbourhood.  Because their daughter Kathy and I were good friends, I spent many a night there throughout high school.  Even with a group of laughing high school girls who were up half the  night instead of sleeping, Bill Perriman never said a word about it.  He told me once, when I asked him how he could stand all of the noise and commotion of us kids being there, that at least he and Irma knew where we all were and the noise was like "peace of mind" to them.  I admired him for that.  I will always remember Bill with fondness for the kind things he did for people, including a little girl like me.

Ida Epperley was the secretary at Haven High School during all of my years there.  She was a wonderful woman who did her job sans technology and an office staff to help her.  I was fortunate to be able to be one of her office aides my junior and senior year and I grew to love her very much.  She always called me "Peg" instead of Peggy and I kind of liked that nickname.  I'm not called that much anymore, but I wouldn't mind if I was.  It was Mrs. Epperley we came to when we wanted to request that the stereo system in the new high school be turned to radio station KEYN.  99 percent of the time, she would oblige our requests and if not, then she had a dang good reason for it.  She loved to hear the Carpenters sing and one Christmas when I gave her their Christmas album, we played it right there in the office.  It was wonderful to see the look of enjoyment on her face as we enjoyed their music together.  Ida helped me to become the woman I grew up to be.  She had a great influence on me and led me to believe that I could do anything I wanted to in life.  I never forgot that about her and surely do give thanks for her to have been a part of my life.

Sergio Albert and Henry Fisher both died within two weeks of one another, American casualties of the war in Vietnam.  It was 1967, the summer of my 12th year and their deaths really shook our small hometown of Haven, Kansas.  My own brother, Mike Scott, was drafted to go to Vietnam as well and I can remember the fear in the eyes of my folks every time a story came on the news about the fighting there.  My brother came home~the little sisters of Sergio and Henry were not so fortunate.  Even though I was very young, the deaths of these two young men had a tremendous impact upon me and shaped my very early opinion of one of the most unpopular conflicts/wars in my time.  Just for the record, I thank all of the men and women who served in Vietnam, those who gave up their lives in one of the most senseless things we have ever been involved in, and those who still carry the "scars" of that war today.  I hate war~but then I can't imagine anyone who doesn't.  I often wonder what they would have been like, had they survived the war.  What wonderful things they both could have given this world of their time and talents.  I've been to those two soldiers' graves dozens of times over the course of the last 46 years.  In my mind, they are frozen in time just like the over 58,000 others that were killed.  I will never forget their ultimate sacrifice in a place far, far away from the peaceful plains of Kansas.


You know, for some reason I have come to take a "liking" to the term farewell.  I never have liked to say good-bye to people or places or things~that word always has such a final connotation about it.  Farewell, on the other hand, is more like saying "Hey, until I see you again, whether that be next month, next year, or maybe even on the "other side" of life, just take care of yourself and be well and at peace".   That would be my wish for all of you reading this blog post.  I desire for all of you, and I'm including myself in that wish, that life would be "ok" and that even when things don't always turn out the way we want them to, they seem to always turn out the way the way they are supposed to.  God bless you guys, one and all.  Have a great rest of this beautiful weekend!

B.J. Honeycutt's final message to Hawkeye Pierce~probably the most poignant of all scenes I believe that I have ever seen on TV.  There was a good reason why they called the last episode of MASH, "Good-bye, Farewell, Amen".

Friends I will remember you~part 8

Good evening friends, all of you out there from cool and rainy south central Kansas.  The sun forgot to shine today, it's been doing a lot that as of late.  But the forecast promises the weekend to be better and the return of sunshine and much warmer temperatures for us all.  Hopefully winter has given up its attempt to thwart springtime's existence around here.  But for all of the moisture we have received in the past two weeks, no matter what "form" it arrived in, we all best be giving our thanks.

This will be a busy weekend around here and with only 4 weekends left before heading to Colorado, I've got one heck of a "to do" list waiting on me.  With the final item remaining on the "Miller Bucket List"~"to meet all of my Facebook friends in person, buy them something to drink, and talk about life for a while", I surely do count the 8 people shown below as my dear friends always......

 Patti Axtell~Speech and Language Paraprofessional, Lincoln Elementary
I owe a huge debt of thanks to this fine woman for all of the help and encouragement she has given to our 4H students at Lincoln Elementary.  She stepped in at the very beginning of the school year to offer her assistance and we were surely thankful for all that she did for us.  Patti serves the speech and language needs of many of our students at Lincoln and it's always kind of fun to see her walking down the hallway with one or two little people tagging along beside her.  She is kind to all of the children and equally nice to all of our staff.  Patti, so glad that I met you and have had these last 3 years to work with you.  I'll miss you my friend.  (April of 2013, Lincoln Elementary, Hutchinson, KS)  

Jessica Mandeville-4th Grade Teacher, Lincoln Elementary and 4H leader
The kids at Lincoln would never have had the chance to do 4H if not for the kindness of this young lady who volunteered to help me manage a group of 40+ students who attended our meetings.  For two years in a row now, she has helped me so much by attending all of the meetings and being a project leader.  It's not a paying job by the way but just like can be said of teaching, you are paid back in many different ways.  Both she and I have looked out in amazement at our monthly 4H meetings at how much the crowd of students has grown.  It's been fun for both of us to be a part of a program that helps kids grow into responsible teens and young adults.  She is a wonderful educator and I have gained so much by watching her teach as she uses new strategies that I had never thought of.  Her students have been blessed and so have I by simply knowing her.  Thanks Jessica for being my good friend always.  I will never forget your kindness to me.
(April of 2013, Lincoln Elementary, Hutchinson, KS)

Leslie Specht-Third Grade teacher, Lincoln Elementary
One of the best things about my job as a Title I teacher is the ability to be able to work with many different teachers at all grade levels.  I have learned so much by watching each of them in their classrooms and Leslie is one of those teachers that have given me that enlightenment this year.  She has the kindest heart and a most pleasant demeanour about her.  Leslie has the respect of her students and co-workers alike.  As I leave Lincoln at the close of this school year, I leave with the knowledge that teachers just like Leslie will remain behind.  Her third grade students have been blessed to have had her as their teacher.  Thank you for your friendship.  I'll miss you!
(April of 2013, Lincoln Elementary, Hutchinson, KS)

Alicia Greene-Title I paraprofessional and dear friend from long ago
We kind of go way back, Alicia and I.  The first time I met her
 she was working at the long-term health care facility where my mom was living.  Then we met up at Mennonite Manor in South Hutchinson, working together again taking care of the elderly residents at the Wheaton and Graber Houses.  And so, it surely seemed fitting that we should once again work together at Lincoln and have enjoyed doing so this school year.  Working in the classroom was a new experience for Alica but she rose to the occasion.  She was willing to learn everything she needed to do her job and I gotta say that she caught on really quick!  I keep telling her that she needs to go back to school and become a teacher~Hey I think she is a natural.  Thanks Alicia for helping me and our students at school this year, especially in the 4H group as a project leader.  I will miss you next year but am glad that I at least was able to work with you this year.  You're a blessing~
(April of 2013, Lincoln Elementary, Hutchinson, KS)

Kyle Duncan~a friend in Oklahoma City, OK
Ok, let's just start this one out with, I cannot believe I am holding a ball python in my bare hands and not screaming with fright.  I had never met Kyle before last summer, even though we have shared greetings back and forth on Facebook for some time.  He went to school with my nieces Brandy and Mandy down in the southwestern Oklahoma city of Altus.  As I read through Kyle's page and looked at his photos, it was obvious that this guy was a friend of reptiles, in particular snakes.  I've hated snakes since I was a kid and always held tight to the belief that only "good snake" was a dead one.  Kyle helped me to realize that I have been wrong about that.  He invited me to come and visit his home in OKC and take a look at his collection of beautiful snakes.  Apprehensive about things at first, it only took me the time that it took to shake Kyle's hand to know that I didn't have anything to be afraid of. I learned a lot about snakes during the time I was there and perhaps the greatest knowledge that I came away with is that snakes do indeed serve a very useful purpose in this world.  I didn't have to afraid of them any more~just treat them with respect when you are around them.  They really don't wake up each morning just "plotting" about which human being they are going to harass that day.  Thanks Kyle for showing me that I had been wrong about them all along.  For your kindness that day, your willingness to teach another person and share your knowledge about snakes, I do thank you friend.  I never will forget that day! :)
(August of 2012, Oklahoma City, OK)

Michael Wilde-former student of mine during the first year of teaching at Haven Grade School-1979

Amy Brittain Pratt-one of the very first students that I had during my first year of teaching at Haven Grade School-1979

Jan Moyer-mother of Michael and Amy and my dear friend for many years.

These 3 friends have been a part of my life now for over 35 years. When I first became a teacher, way back in the dark ages of 1979, one of my very first students was a young eighth grade girl named Amy.  She had the dearest little brother :) named Michael.  I fell in love with those two kids and this "teacher's heart" never relinquished the memories that I made with them during my first year as an educator.  Their dear mom, Jan, was one of the very first parents that I had a teacher conference with.  One of the things that I will always remember about her was the undying support she gave to the teachers.  She loves those two kids and I'm sure she wanted them to grow up to be good and decent human beings.  And they DID!  This past December they invited me to join them and their extended families for a Christmas gathering at Michael's house in McPherson.  For 3 hours that evening, I became one of them and I cannot tell you how happy I felt.  Before I left to return to Hutch, they gave me the gift of a new record player to play all my old albums on.  So Amy, Michael and Jan, I thank you dear friends for your kindness that night.  Who knew when we all met so very long ago that we would remain good friends in the years ahead?  I've been blessed.

~upon the end of my swan song~

Greetings from my home in Hutchinson, Kansas to all of you, friends and family out there wherever you find yourself this evening.  As was to be expected, what a beautiful day it turned out to be.  The high temperature, near the mid-60's, was such a welcome change from the frigid cold, ice, sleet, and snow combination that we suffered through a couple of days back.  I wasn't quite sure how the weather would play out today, especially since this morning I had to find a big rock in order to chip the ice off of my frozen trash dumpster. But you know, as the day went on it got a little more pleasant until this afternoon when I left school after our 4H meeting that I was very surprised at just how nice it was.  I  hope that wherever you are this evening that the weather has been hospitable to you and that the winter's cold has finally figured out that it's not all that far from the start of summer for crying out loud!  

The calendar doesn't leave a whole lot of days left until this school year is in the "history" books.  With May 21st being the "official" last day of the year, if I did the math correctly that means we have only 19 days of school left.  Hard to imagine where this year went and if I had a dollar for every time that I had thought that at the end of a school year, well then I'd have $35 in my pocket.  It's always hectic during these times of the school term with field trips, end of the year testing, and that "summer vacation fever" that kids AND adults seem to come down with.  But no matter how chaotic it is, I'm always glad that I've been there to be a witness to it.  That will never have changed for me and for that I do give thanks.

I began what was to be my official "swan song" of being a teacher back in August of this school year.  The weird thing was, I didn't even realize that I was doing it.  It just seemed like a normal year to me, just like they all have.  As the school year went on though, I started to wonder if it might be the time to return to retirement from education.  At first I dismissed the notion, just believing that it was a normal thought from someone who had already retired 3 years earlier.  And I gotta say here, it wasn't because I was unhappy with being a teacher.  Rather it was a more a case of knowing that I STILL wanted to go out on the "top" before I became a grouchy old teacher who should have quit a lot earlier yet believed that they had to stay, for whatever reason.  I guess I would have to say that by February of this year, the feeling of perhaps being ready to stop being a teacher, was strong enough that it got my attention once again.  After a lot of prayer and decision making, I decided that 35 years was going to be long enough.  Shortly thereafter, I turned in my letter of resignation and I haven't looked back since.

I have had many emails from people since I said I was going to retire once again when school was out.  Many of them congratulated me on making the decision saying they sure did wish that they could do so too.  Yet, even with all of the emails from people who are positive that I made the right decision, there have been those who question the decision to quit teaching.  To all of you out there, regardless of how you would stand on that issue, I thank you for caring enough about me to say either way how you felt.  And to the thought that I will ALWAYS be a teacher, which many have suggested, I say you are right!  But as I have learned over the course of time, there are many other ways to serve as a teacher.  I think one of those ways perhaps shall be waiting for me in the future, the very near future.

So how am I spending the last few days as an educator?  Well, in much the same way that every other teacher, retiring or not, is so doing.  We are teaching our students everything that we can possibly teach them in the precious few days that remain.  Lots of great opportunities for growth and learning are still being offered at my school, Lincoln Elementary, as well as every other attendance center across the district.  And I'm making memories, lots of them, of my time with over 200 of the most marvelous kids that you would ever see.  My heart is full of love for them and even though I will miss them terribly, I know that they are indeed in good hands with the fine staff of teachers that remains.

My hope is to return to long-term health care for the elderly as a CNA as soon as we get settled in Montrose.  I plan to give myself a month or so of rest and relaxation before returning to work.  There are several very nice health care facilities in the area to choose from and I've been quite impressed with the one that is the closest to Mike's house.  In the months ahead, I also hope to receive whatever training is necessary to become a hospice care worker, a dream of mine for several years now.  God willing, it shall happen.  From one end of the age spectrum to the other, from those barely out of their mother's womb to those who are approaching their final years, it has been a joy, a great privilege just to work with people.  I feel thankful to have been blessed with not only the ability but also the opportunity to do just that.

Although few of the students know yet of the plan that Mike and I have to be married at school on the last day, they will soon be finding out.  It is important to me to have not only our families there with us, but also to be surrounded by a "village" of little people on that day.  And when my good friend, LeRoy Willis, walks me down the "aisle" of the gym, he will REALLY be giving me to Mike in marriage on behalf of all those kids sitting there amongst us who have been the greatest of gifts that I have ever received in my life.  I will never forget it, as long as I should live.  

I may be leaving one life, one town, one place in which I have lots of friends and family who love me and support me in my decisions yet I'm going to a place where the most wonderful man in the world shall do the same.  I've treasured this life as an educator and all of the goodness that has found me along life's way here.  I'll treasure even more my new life in Montrose, Colorado with Mike and remember forever the happy feeling in my heart when I realized it was never too late to find someone to love and be loved by.  I'm blessed~  Good night everyone and sweet dreams to each of you.

3 special reasons why I get up each morning and head down to Lincoln Elementary School.  I love these kids~

Friends, I will remember you~Part 7

Good evening everyone from out here on the once again "frigid" plains of Kansas.  As a life-long resident of this state, I've heard the saying "If you don't like the weather here, just wait a minute because it will change",  many times before.  But even I have to admit this is a little bit on the ridiculous side.  Yesterday on the bike path at about 5 p.m. I was riding my bike in beautiful 70 degree weather.  Two hours later I was at the Kwik Shop freezing my fingers off as I pumped gas into my car in 40 degree north west winds.  One thing about it, when spring finally DOES arrive for the good it will probably feel like summertime.  We've gotten some very needed moisture from it and so in the very least of these things, we all better be giving thanks.  

Hey, I do have a question for you.  How many times during the course of a normal, regular old day, have you been encouraged by the friends around you?  You know, it's that kind of encouragement that comes in the form of a smile, a friendly email, an unexpected visit from someone who really cares about you.  Yesterday as I carried dead baby quail number 6 to the dumpster for its disposal, I passed a colleague of mine at school in the hallway. She knew exactly what I was doing without me even saying anything.  I'm pretty sure the look on my face was not a happy one and to be right honest, I was pretty discouraged.  I wasn't sure the remaining 54 of them would make it to the end of the day at that time.  But my cohort,  my dear friend took one look at me and put out her hand to take the  parcel from my hand and proceeded to go to the dumpster for me.  She said with a smile, "Hey give it to me.  I've got it from here" and off she went.  Her simple act of kindness and compassion reminded me of just what good friends do for one another.  My spirit was lifted~I've been blessed so many times by friends and here are 10 more reasons to give thanks~

Dennis Ulrey and Peggy Seck-
Both of these dear friends from the "land of long ago and far, far away" mean a lot to me.  We were all kids, growing up together in the small south central Kansas town of Haven.  We represented the classes of 1971, 1972, and 1973 and we were friends.  Back when we were younger, the 3 of us had no idea that we'd be posing for a picture such of this nearly 40 years into the future.  But as would be a part of "the plan", here we are on a Sunday in April of 2011, having just finished listening to "Pastor" Dennis Ulrey preach the "word" to his congregation.  I am so glad that I was able to reconnect with both of these good people through the medium of Facebook.  Between all of us, we have plenty of stories to share about the "good old days".  It was great just a week ago Sunday to return to Manhattan Baptist Church for Sunday services once again.  Proud of both of these friends for what they have done with their lives.  Glad to call them "friends".
(April of 2011, Manhattan Baptist Church, Manhattan, KS)

Jodi Mitzner-mom of my dear friend Darin, a former member with me in the "broken arm club"
You know, it's just weird how things happen in this life.  How one event in time can lead to additional chains of events that seem to fall into place at just the opportune moment.  Such was the case when I met this young woman in 2011.  Jodi's mom, Brenda, is the secretary at our school, Lincoln Elementary.  I was in the early weeks of sporting a long-arm cast back in the time of my bike accident.  Brenda was telling me one day that her grandson named Darin had unfortunately broken an arm just like I had and was in the same predicament that I now was.  Well, one thing led to another and before I knew it one morning, this young mom and a little boy with his arm in a sling came to visit me in my classroom.  Darin was bearing a beautiful bouquet of flowers and at the first time of our meeting one another, we became fast friends.  I'm not sure that I would have ever met Jodi, except for one unfortunate decision on my part that August morning.  But from the bad came a lot of good, and knowing this beautiful woman and her wonderful family has proven to be part of the very "good".  When Mike and I are married in May, it will be young Darin who tucks our wedding rings into his pocket for safekeeping until needed.  Thanks Jodi for being my friend~glad that we met, even if it wasn't under the best of life's circumstances.  

Katrina Wiard Stussy~
Once again, I have to say that you just never know where life will lead you or what people you will meet in the years ahead of you.  When I was a little girl sitting in Irene Thompson's second grade classroom at Burrton Elementary, Katrina's Uncle Bill was one of my classmates.  Fast forward about 3 and a half decades, and now Katrina is my friend on Facebook and in real life as well.  What a nice young woman she is and I'd have to say that if you are looking for a "real friend" then Katrina is a good one to remind you of what that is like.  Thanks for befriending me Katrina :)
(October of 2011, Haven, KS)

Annette Bell, Joyce Herrell, Kalisha Gingerich, Sara Brubaker-the wonderful staff at It's All About You Salon
This quartet of ladies has done a remarkable job at their salon in South Hutchinson of taking care of the needs of so many people, and I am one of those fortunate ones. I will never consider myself much of a high-maintenance type woman but I'm telling you for sure that if I want to get my hair done, that nice girl standing just behind me and to the left is the one that I'm going to trust to do the job right.  Annette, on the far left, is another wonderful stylist there and my good friend Sara, on the far right, is a fantastic nail technician and the salon's owner.  Sara's mom Joyce recently retired from the salon but when I came to tan there in the years past, she was the one who always greeted me with a friendly "hello" and NO you cannot stay in there more than 15 minutes :)  These ladies are the best~not sure what I'll do without them when I move to Colorado.  Will miss their friendly smiles and warm welcome that they have always extended to me each time I came to visit.  Thanks ladies for everything!
(July of 2011, South Hutchinson, KS)

And last, but certainly not least~my dear friends Anne and LeRoy Willis
So much of my life has been realized as a part of "the plan" in store for me long before I even made my entrance on this planet.  I met this wonderful couple a few years back when I took care of Anne's mom, Winifred, at the Wheaton House in South Hutchinson.  LeRoy and Anne befriended all of us there who took care of ten very precious elders and actually we all kind of became like one very big extended family.  Back when "old lefty" was hurt and I was making the decision to put my bike on an indoor trainer, it was the Willis's who took it upon themselves to locate one for me near Colorado Springs.  They bought it and hauled it back to south central Kansas on their way back home to Sedgwick County from their travels to the south west.  Even though we don't see one another near as often as before these days, they remain dear friends to me.  I'm so thankful to be able to catch up on their great adventures as they travel all over their place in their retirement years.  Hoping I grow up to be just like them.  Thankful to LeRoy for being willing to "give me away" in just a few short weeks.  It's a privilege to call you both "friends" of mine.  (September of 2011, Sedgwick County, KS)

Friends I will remember you~part 6

A good Sunday morning to all of you out there.  It's a little on the early side of the day here in Kansas, 5 in the a.m. to be exact.  Not another light on along my block here in mid-town.  The world is asleep and wisely so.  Around here, it's just me and Oblio the "round head" that are awake and thinking of starting the day.  I've always found arising at this time to be a good thing for me.  I've had a lot of people ask me over the course of time, why the heck I get up so early.  Their number one question is~"What in the world do you do at that time of the day?"  It always brings a smile to my face to hear it because the truth is I don't have a really good answer for them.  

I've been busy doing a lot of things in preparation for a new life to come for me, in now exactly one month from today.  There is much to do but one of the things that is at the top of the list is to finish up the last remaining thing on the Miller Bucket List....."To meet all of my Facebook friends in person, buy them something to drink, and talk about life for a while."  Ten more reasons why I feel more than blessed in this life~

Paula Scott-My sister-in-law
The only time I ever attempted to learn to dance and you can stop laughing any time now friends :) was the time when Paula and I took a lesson here in Hutch one evening.  Hey, it was the summer of Alabama's, "Forty Hour Week For a Living" song and it seemed every body and their brother was learning to do the "two-step".  As a life-long non-dancer I figured shoot, how hard could that be?  Two steps, right?  That's all of the story I'll divulge here but if I were to have had a bucket list at that time and "laugh until I cry" was on it~well, I could have checked it off that very night.  Thanks Paula for that great memory!  I have much admiration for my sister-in-law and I'm so very grateful for everything she did for my brother, the late Mike Scott, who passed away in 2007 from ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease.  She has been a wonderful sister-in-law as well as a friend to me.  For all you have done for our family, I sure do thank you Paula.  (April of 2011, Wichita, KS)

Craig Sailsbury-my friend since the 8th grade, 1969
I guess I never really thought about it before, but I've known some people as my friends for a heck of a long time.  Craig is a good example of one.  For 44 years we have known one another and either that means we are getting up there in age or we met awful early in our lives.  Maybe a bit of both, I suppose.  It was sure nice to pay him a visit yesterday in our old hometown, Haven, Kansas.  He has not changed, not one bit in all of those years.  He is the same kind and decent human being that he always has been and when I thanked him for being such a good friend to me, Craig replied in much the manner in which I would have thought.  He said, "Peggy, I just try to treat others like I would want to be treated."  Wow, that's a novel idea and wouldn't that be something if more people in this world felt the same way?  Before parting yesterday, Craig gave me some wonderful advice if I should ever have the chance to jump a curb again on my bike.  He reminded me that I need to pull up on the handle bars next time and pop a wheelie before I actually go over the curb.  Man, I just KNEW I was missing one important step.  I'll probably not give that a try any time too soon but hey, it's good to know just in case.  Thanks Craig Sailsbury for being my friend!  (April of 2013, Haven, KS)

Nancy Schroeder~a new friend from the "land of long ago and far, far away"
My family moved to Haven, Ks. in 1964 and by that time Nancy had graduated from high school so we really never had the chance to run into one another.  Yet we did finally meet, nearly 50 years later and just yesterday enjoyed lunch together at my favourite place, Bogey's here in Hutch.  It's kind of strange, you know?  There are some people that you can meet for the very first time ever and end up feeling like you have known them all of your life.  Nancy was one of those people for me.  Thanks Nancy for meeting me for lunch yesterday and for your friendship.  We are absolutely strangers NO more! (April of 2013, Hutchinson, KS)

Cathy Field-PE teacher at Lincoln Elementary
When I was a kid growing up, PE was my LEAST favourite time of the day but I bet if I would have a teacher like Cathy, my attitude would have changed dramatically.  This lady makes physical education look like a lot of fun!  I admire her energy, her drive to encourage kids to keep physically fit.  As a teacher, I know how important Cathy's job is to a student's overall success in school.  I first met her when our sons, Grahame and Sam, were friends in elementary school.  It was Cathy who helped Grahame learn how to do some basic swimming in their backyard pool.  She has the patience of a saint and how grateful I am for everything she has done for all of the kids she encounters each school year.  Sure glad that we are friends.  (September of 2011, Lincoln Elementary, Hutchinson, KS)

 Samantha Kempf-5th Grade Teacher, Lincoln Elementary
There was a time, back in the old days of teaching, when I used to be the kid of the bunch.  As the years flew by, that "prestige" fell to others.  Now I am old enough to be the mother of many of my fellow teachers and my friend Samantha, shown above, is one of them.  I admire a lot of things about this young lady~her quiet manner in the classroom, the energy and enthusiasm that comes with "youth", and the ability to teach 5th graders all day long.  As teachers, we all have our "niches", those age levels that we feel best suited for.  Samantha's niche, I believe, is 5th grade.  It's been fun, a real joy to watch her at work in her classroom and I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to learn from her.  Even though I consider myself a veteran teacher, I learn something new (thankfully so) from other teachers every day.  It's the young people in our profession of teaching that give me hope for the kids that are to come in the future.  Thanks Samantha for all that you have done for our students this year, especially those in your classroom at Lincoln!  (April of 2013, Lincoln Elementary, Hutchinson, KS.)

Deanne Nelson-Instructional Coach, Lincoln Elementary
For everything this woman has done to help my teaching experience at Lincoln go a lot more smoothly, I give thanks right now.  She has provided me with a variety of strategies to use when the ones that I had previously been trying just didn't seem to do the job.  I have asked her a thousand questions, some of which I thought were very stupid ones.  She gave credibility to each one of my concerns.  There have been sometimes when I just needed a place to go to, where I could close the door behind me and know that someone would listen if I was having a rough day with students.  Deanne's room was that place.  She helped me in so many ways but perhaps the greatest lesson that I learned from her over the past two years was the importance of giving new people a "chance".  I'm so glad that I did.  Thank you for doing everything you have for our students, for our staff.  I will miss you friend.  (April of 2013, Lincoln Elementary, Hutchinson, KS)

Mel Southam~Grand Junction, Colorado
I will always remember these two folks as being the first friends that I was able to make acquaintance with in my new home of Montrose, Colorado.  Mel and his good wife Margaret have been friends with Mike for a very long time.  I appreciate the fact, more than they will ever know, of how they extended the "hand of friendship" to me, literally sight unseen.  To me, that is one of the marks of a true friend.  We met up with one another a few weeks back to enjoy lunch in down town Grand Junction.  It was my first visit there and as we sat down to visit and each our lunch, they made me feel right at home and very welcome there.  Looking forward to meeting them again, another time soon.  Thank you dear friends for helping this "flatlander" feel like I was just where I was supposed to be all along.  I won't forget that, ever.

Ron Brubaker~husband to my good friend Sara
There was this crazy item on my bucket list in 2011 that said, "to ride on the back of a motorcycle very fast and live to tell about it".  It was this brave man, Ron Brubaker, who helped me to do so.  Although you can barely see it in the photo above, "old lefty" was still in that hot neon pink, "get the heck out of my way", splint.  I was between surgeries number 2 and 3 at the time.  With only 3 weeks left before I'd have to go back in another long-arm cast, I realized it was one of those "now or never" kind of moments.  All I can say is this, we went very fast and that's probably all I am going to say about it.  I wasn't afraid at all~I trusted Ron with the ride and enjoyed every single second of it.  Would I want to do it again?  Nah, probably not.  But for that brief moment of time, I was doing something that made me very happy and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.  Thanks Ron and Sara for being such very good friends to me.  (November of 2011, South Hutchinson, KS)

Ruth Anne French-Hodson, my son's friend and debate partner in high school
What a delight it was to meet Ruth Anne once again just a few months back.  She and her good family had come home to Partridge, Kansas to spend some time with her family back here.  As I sat in the kitchen of her folks' country home, I could tell that she had not changed one bit.  I am so proud of her and the accomplishments that she has made in her life.  What I was most impressed about was the fact that even though she hasn't lived in south central Kansas for many years now, she has not forgotten her "roots" or dismissed the remembrance of where she is from.  Now living far away in the north eastern corner of the U.S., she is making a wonderful life with her husband Jake and little boy, Otis.  Every time I see a photo of her, I cannot help but to remember back to the late 1990's when she and my son Rick were in debate together.  They were quite a pair of talkers back then and it was always a joy to see them working together on that high school debate squad.  The years have gone by now but how wonderful to know that she is doing so well in this life.  Thanks for years of nice memories young one.  (November of 2012, Partridge, KS)

Friends I will remember you~part 5

A great Friday evening to you all out there from "balmy" south central Kansas.  Hey, it may only be 62 degrees outside but compared to the wonderful (not) icy winter weather of a few days ago, it's downright tropical feeling here today.  I have a question for you guys~do you remember the name of your very first childhood friend?  It may have been the kid that lived next door to  you and walked with you to school each day.  Or maybe it was the next door neighbor boy/girl who lived across the alley and back of your grandmother's house.  Perhaps it is someone who you knew only for a short while before they moved away, never to be seen or heard from again.  Whoever they were, there will always be a special spot in our memories, a little place in our hearts where their friendship lies tucked away.  My first best friend was a little girl named Shirley and she rode the kindergarten bus with me every day back and forth from our family's farm in the sand hills just north of Burrton to the hallways of Burrton Grade School.  I haven't seen her since the third grade, but I never forgot about her, not even once.  You know, I  have been grateful for every friend I have had since then and if you are reading this, then you are one of them.  In my Bucket List quest to meet up with all of my Facebook friends and buy them something to drink and talk about life for a while....here are 10 more reasons to be thankful for very good friends.

Desiree Ross-Food Service Staff at Lincoln Elementary
You absolutely cannot be around this woman and not have a smile on your face and that's all there is to it!  I first met Desi over 10 years ago when I was a Developmental First Grade teacher here at Lincoln.  Her wonderful son Eric was also a student here at the time.  This woman has unbelievable energy and a zest for this life and that zeal is contagious.  She offers encouragement to all of the Lincoln students as she greets them in the lunch room and is a real "spirit lifter" for anyone she is around.  I'll miss you friend and that wonderful smile of yours.
(April of 2013, Lincoln Elementary, Hutchinson, KS)

 Darlene Easley-Boys and Girls Club Site Director at Lincoln
Hey, Darlene is one of my newest friends on Facebook and I have the privilege of seeing her each school day.  She's one fantastic "kid wrangler" and in her job with Boys and Girls Club of Hutchinson, Darlene is in charge of the after school program for our students who attend it.  I am always amazed at the way she can keep track of kids, staff,and a variety of  schedules .  Not sure I would be able to do things as organized and efficiently as she does, my admiration always for the "gifts" that she has to do this job.  Glad that I got the chance to work with you this year my friend! Thanks for all that you have done for all of us at Lincoln, kids and adults alike!  (April of 2013, Lincoln Elementary, Hutchinson, KS)

Laura Zambo-Special Education Paraprofessional at Lincoln Elementary
I have all of the admiration in the world for Laura Zambo and the other paraprofessionals that we have helping our students at Lincoln Elementary this year.  There is no way on earth that teachers could do the job we do without the support and assistance of a whole lot of people.  Laura Zambo is one of those special ones.  She has this "way" with kids, one that enables her to step into a variety of situations every day at school and touch the lives of lots of students.  For that, as a teacher I say "thank you".  So glad that she and I became friends at school this year. (April of 2013, Lincoln Elementary, Hutchinson, KS)

Cleta Ellington-Front desk person extraordinair at the Hutchinson YMCA
When I first began working on my Miller Bucket List back in 2011, one of the first goals I had was to be able to learn how swim well enough to save my own life one day. Because I've always been a life-long water "phobic" after what I deemed to be a near drowning experience as a 9-year old at swimming lessons one summer, I was really reluctant.  One Saturday, I received a letter  from the local branch of the Y.  Inside the envelope there was an application form for adult swimming lessons and the message at the top said, "Bucket List Item #4-You Can Do It!"  Since the sender appeared to be "anonymous" I decided to check it out the very next day.  That's where I met my dear friend Cleta.  Turns out one of my friends (well I GUESS it was someone that I knew) had asked Cleta to send it to me to encourage me to finally get back in the water.  And gotta tell you this~now nearly 2 years after this photo was taken on my official "sign up" day, I still don't know who that person was.  Cleta absolutely took a vow of silence that day and no matter how much I have begged and pleaded over the course of time, she has kept her word to not divulge the person's identity.  You know what?  Whoever that anonymous person is, they did me two favors that day.  They gave me the push that I needed to try again and they gave me the chance to meet one of the finest women around, Cleta!  Love you my good friend!  (June of 2011, Hutchinson (KS) YMCA)

Clint Rodriguez-USD 308 teacher, great caretaker of me on the BAK
Any kid in the Hutchinson Public Schools that ever had the chance to call their teacher by the name of "Mr. Rodriguez" should be counting their blessings.  Clint is pretty much a "master teacher" in my books.  We never taught in the same building during the regular school term, but we have had the chance to teach together during many summer school sessions over the years.  Clint has always been good about gaining the respect of his students from the "get go" and thus has been able to reach so many kids over the years in very positive ways.  Clint and his good wife Shelley, rode with me in the Bike Across Kansas in 2011.  Even though I only made it to the halfway point in the state, he and Shelley finished it in good style.  They were both so kind to me, a person way old enough to have been their "big sister".  It was the first time my bike had been blessed with Holy water and you know, that was nice.  So Clint, thanks for what you did that morning in Scott City...I needed all the help I could get to ride those next 72 miles.  Thanks for being such a good friend! (June of 2011, Avenue A Elementary, Hutchinson, KS)

Brian Brillhart-Paraprofessional at USD 308
This young man is just about as good as they come.  Brian is one of the greatest paraprofessionals I have ever worked with.  I've been fortunate enough to have him as my assistant during a couple of summer school sessions over the years.  Brian was like the "Pied Piper" because  everywhere he went, students would be following him.  What I admire the most about him is his quiet and gentle nature.  He is able to gain the respect of his students so easily.  I have never heard him raise his voice, always remaining calm in whatever the situation was. Shoot, I could learn a lesson or two or 10 from this guy. So glad that I had the chance to meet him and work alongside him.  Most blessed was I.  (June of 2011, Avenue A Elementary Summer School, Hutchinson, KS)

The Rodriguez Sisters~Kyra and Alex
These two young ladies have always been special to me.  Being the "teachers's kids" that they are, we have seen one another many times over the course of their young lives.  These two gals have been a big help during the summer school sessions that their parents, Shelley and Clint, have been involved in.  As a summer school teacher myself, there have been many times that they stepped in to assist me with my students as well.  I kind of like the way they look at the world, through the eyes of the young.  I look for marvelous things to happen for them both.  They are destined to do something very good in this world.  Love you two girls! (June of 2011, Avenue A Elementary, Hutchinson, KS)

Chris Mason-Former school counselor at Avenue A Elementary
Chris may be the only Facebook friend that I have a picture of who is dressed in a kilt.  This photo was taken back in September up in McPherson, Kansas during their Scottish Days.  Not only is this guy about 3 feet taller than me (ok, more like a foot and a half but when you are as short as I am, it just seems like it) but he is extremely strong.  He was participating that day in the strong man events, throwing around stuff that I'm pretty sure I could never even pick up.  And although I admire his physical  strength, I have equal admiration for the strength of his big heart.  This young man is kind and caring beyond belief.  It was my privilege to teach alongside him at Avenue A Elementary and in his role as a counselor to the kids there, I witnessed some pretty amazing things happening.  He loves kids and absolutely sees the good things, the strengths in each one of them.  He and his good wife are now parents too and that little boy who calls him "daddy" is one blessed child.  (September of 2012, McPherson, Ks.)

Nori Conrad Bottelman-Former student of mine as a first grader at Haven Grade School
Ah THIS little one~ Back in the early days of teaching, long long ago, I met a little tiny girl with dark black hair and dark eyes who pretty much stole this young teacher's heart.  It was little Nori.  I had only been a teacher for a couple of years and I'm positive I made a gazillion mistakes along the way that school year.  But when I see Nori and the rest of her classmates now as grown adults, I know they all turned out ok :)  It has been so nice to reconnect with her through Facebook and to watch her own little family as they have grown up along the way.  She has a wonderful husband and beautiful son and daughter.  Talk about your blessings!  She sends me encouraging wishes that have arrived at the most opportune moments sometimes.  Dear Nori, your old first grade teacher will always love you kids, no matter how old I get or how far apart in distance we are.  

Revisiting some of the best lessons learned in life~

Last year, just about this time, I posted a blog entry called "The best lessons learned".  It told of a special project that one of my little 4H kids at Lincoln was doing on raising baby quail.  It was one of those lessons in life that could never be found in any teacher's plan book or curriculum guide and just the kind of lesson that I LOVE to teach.  

Tomorrow after school two 4H kids, Dylan and Amirra, are going to accompany me down to the Ring Neck Haven Hatchery at Pretty Prairie, Ks.  We are after some mighty precious cargo~60 tiny little baby quail.   We're gonna pick them up, bring them back to school, make them a nice little home under a heat lamp in my classroom and let them "peep and poop" to their heart's content for the next 6 days.  6 children in the Wildlife project in 4H are going to learn "first hand" about what it is like to be a "mother or father" quail.  And you know what the really cool thing is?  They will have a lot of fun doing it and actually remember it in the years to come.

Until my dying day, whether I have retired as a teacher or not, I will still maintain that it is just as important to learn life's lessons as it is to be able to be the best reader or mathematician of the class.  During  my last 4 and a half weeks as a teacher, I intend to facilitate as many of those special kinds of learning experiences as I possibly can.  I will forever regret it, if I do not.  Hope you don't mind if I "rerun" one of the blog posts from April of 2012.  It meant a lot to me to be able to write it.  Thank you friends for reading it!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The best lessons learned

As an educator for over 34 years now, I think I'm at the stage in my career as a teacher to say "I've just about seen it all!"  (kind of a foolish idea 'cause you know that tomorrow will bring a new and better way to do things!)  When I first started teaching in the "dark ages of 1979", teachers were still running copies the "old fashioned" way, via the mimeograph machine.  When I tell my students of today that there were times when I used to go home with purple hands, they look at me as if I'm from another planet or something.  

Back in the good old days of the late '70s there were no "Smart Boards" or "white boards", just chalkboards.  On Fridays, only a few "lucky" kids were given the responsibility of taking the chalkboard erasers outside and banging them around on the tree in front of our window to clean out the chalk dust.  Forget DVDs, the now antiquated VCR tapes, and for crying out loud, don't even think of a TV...even a black and white one.  We teachers back then used this awful machine called a movie projector that was FOREVER eating up the films that we attempted to show.  I even had a class in college called, "multi-media"that was supposed to teach teachers how to run those stupid things.  And by the way, they tended to use that term "multi-media" rather loosely. Their meaning of the word multi was "2 things"....a slide projector and that ridiculous movie projector thing.  

Oh how education has changed in the more than 30 years I've been at it.  I used to the "baby" of the bunch but now in my building I'm almost the oldest.  Teachers wear jeans to school on Fridays and special occasions these days.  When I first began teaching at age 24, we had to fight for the right to wear slacks once a week.  Wow, the good old days!

Yet even in as much as some things have changed for me, there is ONE thing that remains the same in my way of thinking as a teacher, something that I know will stay with me until my dying day and that is this:

I maintain that the best lessons that a teacher can offer his/her students will NEVER be found in a text book or in our lesson plans.  Hey, they might not EVEN be tied to any of the State of Kansas standards for reading and math.  They are the kinds of lessons that children will recall far longer than they will ever remember how many sides a septagon has, what the author's purpose in writing a story was,  or who the 30th President of the United States was.  (By the way, my friend Dennis Ulrey, if you are reading this I'll give you 25 bonus points young man if you can come up with the answer to either of those!)

There is a young first grade boy at our school who is a very happy child right now, because today he became "a quail father" to 24 little tiny baby quail.  Meet Dylan, a great 7-year old kid, who is one of the charter members of the Lincoln Elementary 4H club.  One of his 4H projects is WILDLIFE 
thus he decided that it would be fun to raise some little baby quail.  We went to Pretty Prairie after school tonight to pick them up from the "nursery" and bring them home to Hutch.

I wish you could have seen the look on his face, such a priceless one, as he buckled into the back seat of my car this afternoon, box full of loudly cheeping baby quail.  Oddly enough and an "imagine that" moment, baby quail are called chicks or cheepers.  Those 2 dozen little things certainly lived up to their name on the 20 minute ride back to Hutch.  

From the back seat, Dylan called up to me saying, "Mrs. Miller, if they are singing a song then I think it is already stuck in my head!"  And then he asked me the question I dreaded, "How can you tell which one is the boy and which one is the girl?"  I was ready with the answer to THAT one.  

"Dylan," I said, "Can you tell which ones are noisest?  Well, THOSE are the boys!"  Guys who are my FB friends, no offense intended.  I COULD have just as easily told Dylan..."Hey, see the ones that brought more than one carry on bag for the trip home to Hutch?  Well, those are the ......" I think you get the picture.

During the next 3 days of school, Dylan will be learning how to take care of those noisy little cheepers.  He has to change the litter in the box, keep them watered and fed, and make sure they are staying warm enough.  He wants to show his classmates in the first grade room his project and will be giving them a demonstration talk on Friday just before the chicks leave the comfort of my classroom at Lincoln.  And it doesn't stop on Friday for Dylan as his family will be taking all of them home and then to a new home in the country with Dylan's grandfather.  

There's an additional lesson for Dylan to learn, certainly not one of the fun ones.  I tried to break it to him before we even left school today.  I called him into my room and reminded him, "Dylan, these birds are going to be very little and sometimes we may come in the morning and one or two will have..." I didn't even have the chance to get the words "died overnight" out.  He already knew and he put his hand on my shoulder and said..."I know some won't live Mrs. Miller".  Friends, I say to you again, never underestimate  the possibilities of everything a child may well know.  Actually I think little Dylan will probably handle that part about as well as I would ask him to.

So for the next 3 days, if you are looking for my classroom at Lincoln Elementary, just follow all the racket and it won't be from kids, either.  A great lesson to learn and I'm glad that Dylan is the one learning it.  By the way, in this my official "2nd year in retirement" (I crack up laughing every time I think about that.) I give thanks with a grateful heart for working with the finest staff of people ever at Lincoln Elementary.  What one of us "might" not know, another one does.  We work together for all the kids, Dylan included.  And as they saying goes, "If you could read this blog, be sure to say thank you to a teacher."  Good night everyone!

Baby quail are just about my favorite type of bird.  They are so tiny and beautiful in their color and pattern.  When you see them hatch out of their eggs, they just remind me of popcorn popping!  But alas, Dylan's quail are indeed wildlife.  Sooner or later, they have to return there.  But until then, we're going to enjoy them.