What a great adolescence I had. For many reasons, of course, but one of them had to do with the dilligent and caring adults who gave to me, and so many others, their time, energy and compassion, and taught us that we mattered to them. A dear friend recently sent me this photo of two of those people, but they are only examples of a host of kind and loving long-legged peeps who I knew truly cared about me.
This post is a tribute to those truly terrific adults, most of whom were part of our ward, but some, part of my educational community. The late, great Vince Wood; Toby Pingree, both pictured here, and to all the rest...who I hesitate to try to name, but hey, how do I pay tribute to them and ackknowledge their gift to me if I don't at least try to name them?
Russ Hutchins, Norm Canning, Phyllis Pingree, Jim Gautier, Ruth Challis, Jean Paulson, Biff McComas, Rick Miles, Clyde Davis, Hal Schmidt, Sterling Bench, Ford Paulson, and...(I reserve the right to add to this list whenever I want to, er, whenever I can remember).
Some of them came to my Little League games, cause they knew Mom was working. Some of them just put their arms around me at church to re assure me all would be well. Some of them taught me about the power of friendship. One of them taught me one of life's mandatory lessons, that if I was to expect forgiveness of Him, I had to deliver it to His other children.
So, pardon me for living in the past for a brief moment, but these great people, some now passed onward in their journey, deserve a personal remembrance from me. "Thank you" seems so inadequate.
Hey, I know a few of the people on that list! It is good that for those whose families are functioning suboptimally, perceptive and loving people can be the family they need.
ReplyDelete