April 4, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
Duck Ponderings: Memories of FRHC fill books
It was the summer of 1974. I was 21 with lots of blond hair. Needless to say, the thickness and the color have both changed.
I had just graduated from ISU, unfortunately before the Larry Bird years, and was searching for a teaching position. I was not around when Bob Rowe, superintendent at that time, called my mom -- good thing! You feel like you know Mom as soon as she starts talking. Based on Mom's story, she basically took care of my interview. I think she promised Bob one of her homemade apple pies if he would get me out of the house!
My meeting with Bob was very brief but memorable due to the firm yet warm handshake and his genuineness. He then took me to meet the principal, Howard Epperson. Mr. Epperson was working on the stairway side-by-side with the janitor, John Eudy, as I entered the old Hope School building. I immediately felt as if I was in the right place -- the building itself was much like the schools I attended through eighth grade.
It was a short interview, and I was offered the position. Later, John shared that he was just as responsible for getting me the job as my mom. Hiring methods in education have changed a little over the years!
Now retired, I'm thinking about Mom again. It was 3 a.m. in the morning. As I was walking by the basement door heading toward the bathroom of my parents' home, I heard a noise coming from the basement. It turned out to be Mom, and I shouted down words never to be forgotten: "What are you doing crazy woman?"
I found out the answer to that question on Christmas morning. She was making a memory album filled with all kinds of interesting childhood items saved over the years related to my life. While looking at it, I was thinking of the specialness of the gift but also thinking my time would never be spent on such an activity.
Well, you eventually realize the importance of being careful when stating "never." I now have 15 memory albums related to 36 years of teaching while completing seven of them after retiring. Admittedly, I also stayed up beyond midnight a few times, just like Mom!
While turning the pages of these albums, I think about how fortunate of an individual I was to travel from the little town of Lovett and ending up in Hope. I also think about how I chose teaching, feeling it would be one of the best ways to help young people but not fully grasping then how much they would help me!
Truly, I have been blessed. I am very appreciative to the Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. as well as the community of Hope for providing the opportunity to serve, an opportunity filled with irreplaceable treasures.[[In-content Ad]]
