Honour Roll

     The most amazing thing happened....our eldest daughter "achieved honour roll status" and was recognized at an Awards Night at her high school the other night. How does a profoundly learning disabled student who has had twelve seizures in the last twelve months do that? The principal said it was team work. I call it very near a miracle.
     There is no doubt that her SEAs worked really hard to help her attain those marks. No doubt at all---they were amazing. And my daughter and I worked hard on the homework and projects we did at home. And of course she was graded based on an adapted program, so not on the same scale as her typical peers. But it is a huge accomplishment in the life of our daughter. Her awards thus far have been achieving "Most Improved" student at her elementary school two years in a row and a Highland Dance medal from Santa Claus. (That is a whole other story!)
     We watched a great many kids receive a great many awards last night; some of them getting up multiple times to get awards in the same or different disciplines. It was astonishing how much brain power there was in the room. The special moment for us though was when our daughter saw her name in the program; she was incredulous. Unexpected rewards are delightful; the pleasure is in the surprise and the gift of being recognized. Although nervous to stand up and walk across the stage, she did it and was noticeably proud.  It was a very encouraging moment in our daughter's life and we hope one of many....

The Horrocks

     Today we celebrated amongst other things, a LST teacher at our elementary school who has retired. He doesn't seem old enough to retire; he rode his bike from Crescent Beach to school and back again every day he taught. And he infused his time with our children with such intelligence, humour and cool warmth that to type these words makes my eyes fill with tears. Am I a fan--- you bet your life I am! Anyone who can make a room and everyone in it sing like he does, is more than alright with me. And that was just in his spare time.
     A LST according to The Free Dictionary, stands for 43 other things but as far as I know, it means Learning Support Teacher. That means that you are not a LST teacher but just a LST. (The same as it is not "two twins", it's just "twins".) But this man was not just a LST. He read with the kids, told stories to the kids, played cards and other games with the kids, did sports with the kids, sang and played his guitar and taught songs to the kids...our kids. And if they needed extra help, they got it, along with a thoughtfully written report outlining what was done, what was needed, how to support learning at home.
     The fact that his last name almost rhymes with the name of a famous Dr. Seuss story is just a bonus. The kids narrated and sang and sang and sang today and it was a beautiful thing. It was our small salute to this wonderful man who apparently will miss the company of children. Today was a day about a man I will never forget...and neither will my children. Thank you Mr. H!

    The Horrocks              (With apologies to Dr. Seuss)

At the far end of town

Where the Grickle-grass grows

And the wind smells sweet and country-like when it blows

And lots of birds sing, even the old crows

Is the School of the Retired Horrocks.

And deep in the Grickle-grass, some people say,

If you look deep enough you can still see, today,

Where the Horrocks once taught

Just as long as he ought

Before something retired the Horrocks, they say.

Who was the Horrocks?

And why was he there?

And why was he retired and riding off somewhere

From the far end of town where the Grickle-grass grows?

The old Red Hawk still lives here.

Ask him. He knows.

“Now I’ll tell you,” he says with his beak sounding gray,

“How the Horrocks got retired and rode away….

It all started way back…

Such a long, long time back….

All of a sudden….

Something popped out from behind the door

Of the room I’d knocked on… It was really a man.

Describe him? That’s hard. I don’t know if I can.

He was tallish. And oldish.

And pinkish. And mossy.

And he spoke with a voice

That was sharpish and bossy.

“Kids!” he said with a sneeze quite long,

I am the Horrocks. I sing for the songs.

I sing for the songs, for the songs have no tongues,

And I’m asking you kids, at the top of my lungs”---

He was not at all upset as he shouted and ran ---

“What’s that THING you’ve done with those songs that we sang?”

The Horrocks said nothing. Just gave me a glance….

Just gave me a happy-sad backward glance…

As he lifted himself onto the seat of his bike.

And I’ll never forget the nice look on his face

When he heisted himself and took leave of this place,

Through a hole in the fence, leaving quite a trace.

And part of what the Horrocks left here in this thing

Was a small pile of voices, with the one word…

“SING.”

And we know what that means and we know how to do it,

In three part rounds, with and without music,

We know all the words because the Horrocks, he taught us

He gave us such gifts that no one could have bought us.

That’s why we will never forget him….

Why we will always thank him…

That’s why we love him.

Dancing

     Over the years, our younger daughter has done Highland dancing with a wonderful teacher---- a woman of infinite patience and Scottish good cheer. At one point, both my daughters and I danced with her. It was a great deal of fun. Highland dance can be quite difficult but it looks amazing when done right. Picture elevating yourself by jumping on your toes over two crossed swords laying on the ground without rattling them. Scottish country dance is not as hard to learn, but again enormous fun.  Again, picture yourself in a set with five, seven or even more dancers, crossing back and forth, swinging, linking arms and more. The woman who teaches the class does so with such enthusiasm and ease that all the girls (and sometimes boys) can't help but be hooked.
     The unofficial motto of the dance facility is "....where people with two left feet are welcome...." Thank goodness! It's refreshing to be in a class where you can learn at your own pace and your aptitude for a skill does not matter; what matters is your desire to learn. And I prefer Scottish dance to other dance because the clothing worn for it at competitions or ceilidhs is child-appropriate: kilts and skirts in every colour imaginable, white blouses with lace, velvet vests and matching knee socks. I dislike going to a dance recital and seeing young girls dressed in scant clothing with lots of make-up on.
     I have always been a fan of everything Scottish, whether it is bagpipe music, tartan clothes or the accents. (I am not Scottish, but sometimes I wish I was.) But I am a huge fan of this dance company because it encourages little girls and boys to love to dance. Whether they are good at it or not, they are appreciated. With this teacher's encouragement, they also learn to love themselves dancing and what could be better than that? And as Mike Myers said in the SNL "All Things Scottish" skit--- "If it's not Scottish, it's crrrap!"

Father's Day

For Dad

Time can be so very unkind,
Erasing memories from our mind
But there are some I remember well
It’s of these I wish to tell:

Baseball and opera, all in one day
You drove; we talked and rode a long way.
You took me to the place I was born
Along village paths ancient and worn.

Burgers for all of us in the back of the car,
Trips to Florida, Montreal, places near and far,
A favourite film seen again and again
Words to the songs imprinted and then,

From you, I got a lifelong love of sweets,
Music, reading, sports and more treats,
A short temper but quick to forgive,
So many lessons I needed to live.

I will remember, I will never forget
The kind of father you are still yet
Loving, kind, honourable and giving
Who shows me how to make life worth living:

Hold your friends and family close,
Be there when they need you most,
Face your troubles when they come,
Don’t be afraid and never run.

Love God and country and take care
Listen, learn and always be fair.
These things I took from life with you
For them and more I thank you too.

How can I say what it means to be sure
That you are on my side forever more?
I love you Dad, that’s how it’s said
And I’m grateful for the life you’ve led.

Singing

     My daughter loves to listen to music. There is a popular song out right now by The Mounties that spells it out: "I got my headphones on from the minute I'm up 'til the minute I go to bed, I got my headphones on everyday of my life, gonna wear them until I'm dead..."  She also likes to sing. Not in an always-singing-everywhere-and-anywhere kind of way but in a way that soothes her and makes her life better. Most of the singing happens at choir although Justin Bieber and Jonny Lang sometimes get a pretty good run for their money here at home. I have been in our church choir and know firsthand how amazing it is to sing with a group. When you feel part of something bigger than you, you connect with your inner self in such a clear way.
      My daughter is a member of a children's choir that is a gorgeous group of young, mainly female voices, brilliantly led by a beautiful, dynamic woman with a South African accent and the voice of an angel. With her guidance, this group of young people entertain, inspire and delight. Most everyone is unfailingly kind to my daughter, despite her differences and she enjoys time spent with them. A seizure at practise did not faze this choir's leader, who dealt with it in such a kind and loving way. I believe that she viewed it as a teachable moment and had the other students help her to look after my daughter. Her compassion was amazing and I think the kids learnt a lot about how to handle a seizure in the future. She told them that they can never know what their friends have to deal with in their own lives and to count their blessings. She also said that she was was proud of them and that she loved them all. What an incredible teacher!
     I am inspired by people like this woman and I know she makes my daughter a better singer and a more well-rounded person. Last night when I saw many of the choir members singing at the finish line at the Relay for Life in support of cancer research, I felt proud. I liked seeing a community of young singers supporting a community of mostly older runners and walkers as they made their way around the oval. Singing is a way of connecting souls; a way to reach out to each other and our world; a way to give our love for others, wings.