Thursday, July 23, 2009

Thoughtful Thursday

Way back in the Ming Dynasty, when I was in Grade 9, I had the most amazing English teacher I would ever encounter.

I do not think that this was solely my opinion, as evidenced by the fact that in all the years after we graduated from Junior High, most of his students would return to his classroom to say hi and hang out. Some still hang with him to this day.

Mr. White is the fine gentleman responsible for awakening my appreciation of words and context and the power they hold. He made us willingly listen to John Denver and Roger Whitaker, and parse the meaning behind the words. That he could captivate an entire class of hormone-riddled, attention-deficit, moronic teenagers was nothing short of a miracle. But he did. Effortlessly.

During one of our post- JH visits, when my friend and I were having a 'Que Sera, Sera' moment with Mr. W, he told us that he saw Leanne as "a do-er". She would eventually find a life path that had her in the midst of the crowd.

These days, Leanne is a massage therapist. Score one for Mr. White.

He told me, much to my chagrin, that I was "an observer"; that I would hang back and listen and sponge it all in. I wish he could have been a little more specific as to how I would eventually regurgitate all of this information back out; at the time I didn't ask because I was kind of pissed off by his opinion. I wanted to be a do-er.

All these years later, I still wonder - Did Mr. White have magical powers or was he just saying what he thought we wanted to hear? I haven't a clue.

What I do know is that I love to listen. Plop me in the middle of a group, and I will just fade into a corner and observe, observe, observe. It, to me, is absolutely fascinating.

Today's TT speaks for itself - a love letter to all whom I know, all whom I have recently met, and all that I hope to one day meet:

"The tiniest
Story in your
Life can
Deeply
Touch another
You cannot
know
The effect
Your story
Might Have"
Sark

14 comments:

Cormac Brown said...

Even though you are quite observant, don't you think you've done quite a lot, traveling and raising such a fine brood?

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

Baroness~truer words have never been written.

Mental P Mama said...

Amen. I love Sark. And I think you are an observant do-er. The best of both worlds.

big hair envy said...

WOW! We witnessed Sark in action last weekend! Perhaps you should invite Mr. W to the next blog fest...he might learn a thing or two;)

Shelley said...

Count Cormac: Absolutely! Some of my best work to date is the two beautiful lumps residing in my family room as we speak.

Countess NoeNoe: That woman ALWAYS nails it.

Countess Mama: Ah, the wonder of SARK. She should be the keynote speaker at next year's BF.

An observant do-er is something I strive for daily. Not always too successfully.

Unknown said...

Boy, your post speaks volumes!

Not Afraid to Use It said...

I always wanted to be that teacher. The one that kids remembered and made a difference. I think I was to some of them. They friended me on Facebook, in any case. :)

Great story. If he is still around (because the Ming Dynasty was quite long ago) you might ask him what he meant over a cup of coffee.

Unknown said...

I thought I was a doer...earlier in life, but as I get older (and wiser)I am finding that I love being an observer, both in my own life and those I love.

I love to memorize life with my mind.

Shelley said...

Countess BHE: No way. Girls only.
(with a couple of exceptions; like my new VA paramour).

Countess GJ: I'm just the messenger.

Countess NATUI: I am to glean from some of your past posts, you WERE that teacher - no doubt about it.

Sadly, I do not even know if Mr. W is still around; thought I might poke around during my HS reunion in August.

Countess of the Land Mass: The wisdom that comes with age is indeed a blessing! Yeah, old fart-dom!!

Audrey at Barking Mad said...

The quote from Sark hit a place deep inside me. So much so that I've not got the words to leave a decent comment. Just know that this post moved me. Especially after this weekend.

Meg McCormick said...

I was having a similar thought today about how we all bring our different stories to the table. And I didn't even know the half of it till we all got together last weekend.

Shelley said...

Countess Audrey: I love your comment just fine. It is far beyond decent.

Countess Meg: I still didn't really get to hear half of them - sigh. That's what next year is for, I guess. Pen me in, doll. I want to hear everything!

Daryl said...

A Girl Scout camp counselor once told me to set a good example since I was a leader and the others would listen to me... yeah well how come no one listens (and trust me I know how I have left myself open to snark not Sark with that remark)..

You,however, seem to have found your voice .. so go do!

Shelley said...

Countess Daryl: From What-I-Have-Lurned 101: Being bossy is NOT the same as being heard...

And I am bossy.

 
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