Back to School

          Back to school.  How many times have I excitedly awaited the beginning of a new school year?  How about 55 years? Time to reminisce.
          I did not attend kindergarten so first grade was greatly anticipated, and with Mrs. Modeska Alston as my first grade teacher, I was not disappointed.  My first report card remarks included how quiet I was and how I needed to interact more with the other students  Needless to say, my second report card's remarks included, "Sandra tends to talk a lot with her classmates."  I don't remember much about the first grade except that I got to drink chocolate milk at recess and that I got to draw and paint a lot. My second grade teacher was Mrs. Rabon. She gave me my first and only paddling at school; actually, she popped my ankle (after rolling down my socks (?), and hit my ankle with a ruler.  What did I do?  As memory serves me, I was simply following rules by putting up the puzzle after I finished with it. (As a teacher, I know now that I was probably dawdling as I put it away, AND the reason I was playing with the puzzle was because I ALWAYS had to be the first finished with everything, right or wrong, so that I could go play with a puzzle.) My third grade teacher was Miss Louise Stamps. Two things that I remember about her class-first, we walked to her house to watch one of the space flights (no TV's at school) which teachers would never be allowed to do today, and two, we had a very young, attractive sub whenever Miss Louise, who we all thought was old as the hills, was out. The boys LOVED her.  She wore extremely high heels and tight dresses and did the twist during free time. Miss Johnnie Sue Burgess was my fourth grade teacher. We learned Alabama history and the multiplication tables.  It was either during this year or our third grade year that during recess the girls would chase the boys and kiss them when they caught them. Then, Edwina told on everyone, so the teachers made us quit.  My fifth grade teacher was Mrs. Gardner. Mostly, I remember that she read good books to us and that she was very pretty and soft spoken.  My six grade teacher was Mrs. Geneva.  Everyone was scared of her--the boys needed to be as I think most of them got a paddling from her, but I remember liking her.  It was this year, I think, that John F. Kennedy was assassinated.  I remember the teachers talking in hushed voices in the hall then an announcement over the intercom that our president was dead.
     Other random memories from elementary school: riding an elephant for a quarter :-); having no librarian so the teacher took us to a room with books and we picked one out to read--I don't think we took them home, just read them during our "library" time; having music with Mrs. Elizabeth Abrams (to this day, I will just start singing the words of songs out of the blue, and I know that I learned them from her); playing jacks outside under the awning waiting for the school doors to open; having a school nurse and a bed to stay in if you didn't have anyone at home to come get you; taking YEARS of piano and wishing that I had practiced or at least paid attention.
     Following elementary school was junior high and senior high at Aliceville High School.  From there, I went to Livingston University where I graduated in December 1973 and immediately began working at Pickens Academy the following January of 1974. After PA, I worked at Warrior Academy in Eutaw, AL; Morgan Academy in Selma, AL; Pickens County High School in Reform, AL; Carrollton Unit School in Carrollton, AL; Buhl Elementary in Buhl, AL; and at my present job at Collins-Riverside Middle School in downtown Northport, AL. WHEW!!!!! And I loved every minute of it and still do.
    So, "Back to School" time is still exciting to me.  I will be at school before 7:00 a.m., have the library open, and be ready to help any teacher or student begin this new year. Happy 2013-14 School Year!!!!

Aunt Kat

Today, Dennis and I drove my mom to Sumter County to pay our last respects and to celebrate the life of one of my favorite aunts, Anna Kathryn Shelby Plott. Aunt Kat was mom's oldest sister. She, Uncle Walter, and their three boys, Gene, T...ony, and Tommy, lived just down the road from my grandparents, and as we visited my grandparents almost every weekend, it was inevitable that she and her family would be an important part of my life.
My love of reading came from Aunt Kat. The minute I would walk in her door I would head to the bookshelves in her living room. There I found, and read, such classics as The Prince and the Pauper, Heidi, and Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates, over and over and over.
Today, her pastor read from her Bible-notes that she had made as she read and studied God's word. Her favorite Bible verses and songs were shared just as she had prepared for them to be. While having an excellent meal prepared by her small country church, my eyes were drawn to a dry-erase board with the following verse printed on it:
"Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children live in the truth." Third John:4
I know where my aunt is, and I celebrate with her. See More

Aunt Kat's boys, Gene, Tony, and Tommy

Aunt Ruth, Fred, and his family
 

 

Tommy and his family

Gene and Aunt Nina, the youngest

ROLL TIDE!

   I just realized that 39 years ago, Dennis and I went to the Orange Bowl in Miami to watch Alabama and Notre Dame play.  I remember all too well that Alabama lost that game.  We drove down with friends in our new red and white Chevrolet Blazer. Both side windows and the back window were painted with pachyderms. Talk about country rednecks from Pickens County, Alabama!! We took the back seat out, "installed" two lawn chairs, and rode "in style" all the way to and from Miami.  Needless to say, we were disappointed about the game, but we stopped by Orlando Disney World on the way home hoping it would make us feel better. (It did.)
  This year Dennis wanted to send Parker and Jason to the Orange Bowl as part of their Christmas.  Because Parker knew he would be returning to the states to get a visa after three months in Paris, he bought a round trip ticket as it would be cheaper.  When Dennis gave "the boys" their present, Parker called to exchange his ticket.  Unfortunately, the exchange would cost close to $5000!!!!! Now, Dennis and Jason are going to the game.  They will get up early in the morning (Saturday), head to the airport in Birminghan, fly to Houston (crazy) and have a four hour lay over before heading to Tampa.  At Tampa, a rental car and hotel room will be waiting for them. They will drive to the game from Tampa and have found an Alabama memorabilia (?) tent where they plan to spend some time waiting for the game to start.  After the game they will back track and head home.
   My plans are to stay with Savannah,, Libby, and Luke.  We have plans to see Monster, Inc. on Saturday afternoon. We will watch the game from home wearing our new TUSK sweatshirts and hoping that both kids will be asleep. ROLL TIDE ROLL!!