Decorating for the Christmas Home Show

I had this brilliant idea that since the living room has a 23 foot ceiling that a 12 foot Christmas tree was just what we needed.  So last February, after signing the papers to start the new house, we went out and bought a 12 foot  Christmas tree.  I didn't realize----

WHAT was I THINKING???  After much juggling and maneuvering we got the thing up, however all the limbs had to be opened one at a time.  So as I am doing that, I see me life flash before my eyes as the giant tree starts to fall.  Being on the top of the ladder, I was not in the most stable place to be tree wrangling. As I got a hold of it, I realized the ladder is going too. 

Fortunately Jim heard the scream and rescued me.  But that wasn't the end. After getting it upright again I decided that now was the time to put on the garland--so with Jim in bed I start to wind the tulle around the tree in little swags----and---TIMBER!!  So much for Jim being asleep. He decided that we needed to put wires from the balcony of the upstairs to hold it. Me once again on the ladder, holding the tree,  we get it wired, go down to look at it and it strangely resembles something leaning in Pisa. 

Today we finally got it wired with the tree straight up.   I had spent the afternoon at the dentist and as I sit looking at this behemoth, realize that there is no reason whatsoever for us to have a tree of any kind.  We have no one who visits us during the holidays.  BUT after this much trouble, I guess we will try to enjoy it.  We have lots of wonderful memories of Christmas' past to remember.

Thank goodness our two cats who always had to climb the Christmas tree now reside in kitty heaven or we would really be in trouble.

Intervention

Last week was the third week of my new position as an interventionist in a public school system in Lubbock. The first two weeks were mainly organizational. I got to know many of the students. This week we actually launched. I work with students in Reading, Math and Writing, in grades 1st through 5th. While it would be great to have the income and perks of a full-time job (I work full-time only Oct-April) My calling is definitelty for intervention.


My students are wonderful. Most are very intellegent and capable but have changed schools from 3 to 6 times--and some of those were 2nd graders. They are behind simply because of no continuity in their education, from being moved so much. In spite of that hardship--they are bright, eager students. I hope I have the opportunity to work with them all year.

My new school has an incredible posititive personality which makes it a delight to be there. I can't begin to tell you the thrill I feel when walking down the hall and hear a little voice whisper loudly,. "Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Hayes," I turn to find a little smiling face and hand, waving wildy.
My 5th grade students had an "Ah Ha" moment after doing poorly on a Place Value test when we played a game using the place value chart. I showed them that they could all have aced the test--by simply drawing the chart. Their teacher had told them that many times, but since I have such small groups, I can talk to each student directly. They can have hands-on experience and individual success, by asking me all sorts of questions they would not ask in the classroom. I don't know who enjoys their success more--them or me.
I alway thought I wanted a classroom teaching job, but now realize I have found my niche.

Mrs. Petit

                                                                                  Mrs. Petit

The luncheon started out with only the "Inter-City Elementary" people. (Inter-City is an elementary school that is in between Texas City and LaMarque hence the name). So the first thing that came to my mind was Mrs Petit who taught there for many years.I couldn't help but think how she would enjoy seeing some of her former studnets so I asked her to come. She was thrilled. I talked to her several times in the next few months and she continued to tell me how she was looking forward to the luncheon.

On the morning of the luncheon, Madeline and I went to LaMarque and picked her up.  She was dressed and waiting at the front door for us.  She got to see many of her former students and meet others from our class.  Just looking at her I could tell she was enjoying every minute of the luncheon.
I took her back to her house and visited with her for awhile.  She walked me out to my car.  As I drove away she was sitting on the little planter in front of her house waving.  That would be the last time I would ever see her.

The next Thursday I got an email telling me she had died.  Her neighbor, a widoewer, had noticed that she did not put her car in the garage as usual and went to check on her.  He found her lying on the floor in the kitchen.  She had died while making supper the night before.

The notice in the paper told nothing about her long teaching career--or that she had volunteered over 1,000 hours at the hospital.  I couldn't bear for this incredible person's life to pass away so quietly.  I decided to tell what those of us, who had been in her class, had felt all these years.  The following was published in the Galveston County Daily News;



Mrs. Petit Was Called To Teach



At the dinner after my mother’s funeral, I looked around at all the friends and relatives and thought to myself how much Mom would’ve enjoyed the gathering.  I resolved to visit those I loved while they were living instead of just going to a funeral.


I had the privilege of taking my third-grade teacher, Helen Petit, to the La Marque High School Class of 1970’s 40th reunion Oct. 9.   She had taught school in La Marque for many decades. Marrying Smokey Petit in her 40s, she never had children of her own — her students were her children.  Long widowed, she lived in her tidy house in La Marque, next door to a devoted neighbor who checked on her. She had battled cancer in her later years, and her face showed the scars of many surgeries. It didn’t stop her.


To be a great teacher, one must have a calling. Mrs. Petit was one of those teachers.
While with friends the following week, she had talked nonstop about the students she had seen at the reunion.
Six days later, she went to be with the Lord. It was almost as though she confirmed that day that her life had been well lived and her students well taught.


She saw those former students, now in their late 50s, each giving her a hug and sharing their memories of being in her class.


As I dropped her off after the reunion, she told me: “I can’t wait to tell my friends what a lovely time I had. I will have something to talk about for a very long time.”


Mrs. Petit touched her students’ lives in a very special, personal way. We each felt like we were the student she cared for the most.


I hope she left this world knowing we felt the same way about her. Mrs. Petit, you will be missed.

Jan Greenlee Hayes


Lubbock




























The Banquet at the Moody Garden's Ballroom

                                                                                    Leslie Gill Biesiadecki and Kay Fox Calhoun

Greg Mazzantini (r) who teased me and gave me grief all of my school years.

Kay Fox Calhoun and Me.  She was

Homecoming Queen and I was her dorky friend.