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My First Grade Teacher

G
GIJoeBob

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

View Image

Thanks grandma, I love you too. View Image

Comments (7)

U
UnwashedMass·
That rocks! Way to spread some smiles, Soup! My first grade teacher pepper sprayed me last time I saw her. In church. I was an awful kid.\r \r \r \r :)
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NewBoyX·
That should make Dixie feel all warm inside.
U
UnwashedMass·
JoeBob- I'm a dumbass as well as a menace to schoolteachers.....
B
bunky·
Aww, that is so sweet. She must have really loved you and made an impact on her life for her to remember you after all those years
K
kweenie1969·
That is awesome JoeBob!!
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DixieBelle·
Thanks! Many days I wonder if anybody will remember me when they aren't 4-years-old anymore. Thanks for the encouragement!
S
selden007·
There is no way that I would ever know my 1st grade teacher if I ever saw her. In fact I could not even tell you a teacher of mines name from prior to the fourth grade.