Dear Reader:

When I came across a funny ( but relatable) anecdote a few days ago… I saved it because I intuitively knew it would make a fun story for some future theme. ***But before I share this story… let me set the stage …reminiscing back to my own teaching days.

Only teachers can truly relate to this scenario … one that ” afflicts” all teachers. It happens the last five minutes before the last class, the last day, before holidays, early school closings, the last five minutes before summer holidays, and even the last five minutes on some Fridays before long-awaited, beloved weekends.

A funny teacher comrade I knew for years called this scenario ” The Fearsome Five Minute Finale!” While the students are bickering or whining … comparable to your own kids in the car… five minutes from grandmother’s ” Are we there yet?” ( while you debate driving off the road)

A teacher’s eyes are glued to the big round wall clock on the back wall… silently swearing that it must be broken … surely another minute has passed and wondering if you can bargain with God to take the last three minutes off your personal life time-line in exchange for the bell ringing. ( So glad now God never took me up on my exchange offer!)

And now… let me share the story…titled Vow of Silence.

Once in a remote monastery deep in the woods, there lived a group of monks who had taken rigid vows of silence.

The vow could only be broken once a year on Christmas and then only by one monk-who was restricted to one sentence.

One Christmas, Brother Thomas had his turn to speak… and said ” I love the delightful mashed potatoes we have every year with the Christmas roast” then sat down.

Silence ensued for 365 days.

The next Christmas, Brother Michael got his turn to speak and said,”I think the mashed potatoes are lumpy and I truly despise them.” He then sat down… and silence ensued for 365 days.

The following Christmas, Brother Paul rose and said, ” I am SO fed up with this constant bickering!” ( and sat down)

So until tomorrow…

Rutledge, Lachlan, and Eloise start school today… and Eva Cate and Jake Wednesday. My prayers for a memorable and impressionable great school year for everyone.

And as for me…

Yesterday I had a God Wink… I was leaving the CVS pharmacy after picking up medications. I pulled back out on Main Street …when suddenly every car was slamming on brakes… it was a flock of geese crossing the main road right at the red light!

I only caught three of the flock crossing but in all there were about 8 geese of all ages… and the most beautiful moment was watching the motorists’ expressions go from irritation to smiles when they saw what had caused the back-up! People are good at heart.

Today is my favorite day… Winnie the Pooh

I kept checking the hibiscus blooms and by last evening the one orange bloom that appeared yesterday morning had another Orange hibiscus -Rutledge and Lachlan… my two orange Clemson boys… your two blooms are symbolic this morning of the way each of you will bloom in school this year!

And to my surprise, Eloise, one yellow hibiscus shocked me with a fast-action bloom just in time for your first day in public school kindergarten… bloom away Eloise!

*** By Wednesday when the Charleston schools start back… no doubt two more blooms will be ready for Eva Cate and Jake .. for a year to bloom and grow!