hola muchachas!
i'm here wrapping up the year in my little classroom in chinatown.
one of my clever, sweet, big dreamers wrote me a letter (dear mary ann moss…) this week that made me cry in class. as a 52 year old, my tear production has reached an all time high. it's possible i cry more now in public than i did as a 6 year old.
but i can't be sure unless i time travel, and this week anyway, that is out of the question.
ms. moss makes you feel special.
i thought i was bad and people hated me. i was really shy…
her letter goes on in specific detail to describe how she feels i helped her. and at the very end she wrote:
i give thanks to ms. moss's mom for bringing a wonderful, beautiful, talented woman to the world.
best. letter. ever.
THIS is the song the kids will sing for their culmination. i think it's a lovely anthem for beginning life "out on the loose". sniff sniff.
i'm heading off to sweden in a few weeks and my letter writer is heading out on her own grand adventure from guatemala to el salvador with her adult brother.
she's going to keep in touch with me along the way and send me photos & missives from the road.
in the meantime i have a mountain of closing tasks to take care of, 27 goodbye hugs to give, and lots of loose ends to tie up.
see you on the other side!
xo
p.s. missus letter writer, is among 4 students, who will be presenting their "dare to dream" speech to the entire culminating class.
What an accomplishment for you, Mary Ann! So much adoration from the kids you inspire. It makes me happy to know that the world can be such a sweet and loving place, when I hear your heartwarming stories about your students. Thank you, once again. I’m excited for your trip to Sweden. Can’t wait to see your photos and hear your tales. Be safe. Have great fun!
This is great, what the kids say to you-we know they mean it!
By the way, what is going on when I click on your videos and it remains a blank, black screen?
Thanks, Sandy
Cried when I read this as after all this time I realize I never said ‘thank you’ to the most awesome teacher who helped me to speak,,
Her name was Sister Magellan. I shall Never forget her.
Nor will your little one forget you. Believe that as it is True.
Good work , MAM!!! Good Work!!!!!
May the winds of fortune carry you to Sweden and beyond……and bring you safely home again.
Hugs, hugs, HUGS..
~Sass
I’m so happy for you to receive such a sweet letter….I ran and cried most of the way home from school in 5th grade after my class said good bye to our student teacher. I don’t remember she and I exchanging adresses (maybe she gave it to the whole class??), but she and I mailed letters to each other for a few months. I kept some….Funny how we don’t necessarily remember all the details about people decades later, but how they made us feel about ourselves gets forever etched in our minds. I suspect a whole lot of kids will carry you with them for always.
Safe travels and best wishes for a lovely vacation!
Tearing up here, xox
To touch the life of a child, is to forever change her future! Bravo to you.
I found my Ms Moss when I was a wee one and she changed my life profoundly. At 51 I am who I am today because of her. Again… bravo to you!!
What a lovely gift you give those kids and some give back to you. That’s what counts in life, how much love we spread around. Enjoy your final days and dream of cool Nordic days!
You excerpts from your special letter made *me* cry! Lucky little girl to have you for a teacher. Lucky you to be so well appreciated. I love happy endings! Thanks for sharing this story. You made my day.
XO
PS What Judy Wise said, “I love you.” Ditto.
I’ll say it again; I love you.
Oh man, Good stuff.
That little person got it just right. It’s teachers like you who can turn the tide for the better in our lives and remain in our memories lifelong.
I always like your tales from ‘the trenches’ (as I call the places most teachers work in) the best. I think letters like that are what keep people going for another year or so. To make a difference in a person’s life…well isn’t that what life is all about?
Enjoy your time in Sweden. My dear friend and spouse leave next week for Sweden also. You may see them! LOL
What a wonderful letter of appreciation from that child. You have changed her life for the better and she will never be the same. Made me cry too. So sweet.
oh my goodness, so sweet! you never really know for sure the lives you’ve touched, but nice to get a reminder once in a while. Teachers rock! bless you all….♥
What a wonderful letter…and it’s awesome how you inspired that young girl. She’s going to be a fabulous person…with help from you. You make those kids blossom. The world needs more teachers like you.
Enjoy Sweden…we’ll all be watching for your updates here.
So lucky your paths crossed. Made me cry too. Life is good.
Mary Ann, I’ve said it before but you are such a wonderful “gift” to these young people. I look forward to traveling along with you this summer.
Beautiful!
that made me cry!
A letter well earned and most deserved!
Oh, MAM, what a wonderful tribute to YOU. Looking forward to reading your Swedish posts.
what a gift to receive at the end of the school year…..
keep inspiring those young-soon-to-be teens that life is always revolving….and
that mean kids do get squished. or squashed.
Holly
How very sweet and not at all surprising that you should be the recipient of such a letter. Looking forward to your Swedish dispatches!
Holey smokies…what a letter. What a lovely post to read this morning. We’ve all been telling you, Ms. Moss, how you touch lives, and that kidlets will remember the way you touched theirs for years to come. They’ve been so fortunate to cross paths with you, and you with them. As we all have. sniff sniff..Hugs from me.
Awe.Some. Love it.
Waooooo!
What could be better! That is so wonderful that these beautiful children show their appreciation so much! You deserve it!
I have finally done another sketch and posted on my blog, I hope I can continue, I need to persevere!
Definitely the best letter ever. And that is why we do it. That’s what matters above anything else. We have 8 MORE DAYS here, and I am counting them. 🙂 Enjoy your time off, and I look forward to your Sweden posts!