So Much Depends Upon a Teacher

Yesterday, I showed this photo of a box of treasures that came from a school in Texas:

This isn't just a random collection of 'stuff' - each item feels specially chosen and warmly offered, from the school tee-shirt (which I've already worn proudly) and thermal drinking cup (they know I drink tea and water while I write) to the fine, fine chocolates (they know I love chocolate) –

that come with this warning

(they have a sense of humor)

and these seeds

"seeds of esperenza and morning glory"

to be scattered 

(representing hope)

Clipped to the top right of the card is

a trio of trinkets

representing cats, dogs, journeys

(Love That Dog, Hate That Cat, 

and many journeys)

and letters, amazing letters

full of enthusiasm and humor and warmth

Listen to this one line:

"I like to say your name, it has a creek in it like a door closing real slow."

Referring to my Skype session with them, one says:

"All of the love and happiness imported straight from New York 

makes me flabbergasted!"

And poems - how about this one:

So much depends upon

Tacos

We gobble them

we make them

we fight over them

TACOS.

And of course, also in this box of treasures,

this perfect little red wheelbarrow

which refers to the William Carlos Williams poem

that means so much to the boy in LOVE THAT DOG:

so much depends/ upon / a red wheel / barrow // glazed with  rain / water // beside the white / chickens

This is a school with such a good feeling about it, from the teacher and students with whom I bonded several years ago, to their librarian and principal and fellow teachers and students - and there are more schools like this out there

ones where the administration and teachers and librarians 

set the tone

and 

so much depends upon

their energy and compassion and enthusiasm

and you can feel it

in the students

in their words

and their actions

and I feel honored to know them.

They are changing children's lives:

so much depends upon them

so very very much.