The Melty Heart Thread...
- Thread starter BlackWolf65
- Start date
BlackWolf65
Alpha Lycan
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2006
- Posts
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My little disclaimer(s):
First, I am a true "half-breed." I am half Cree, half Irish. Indian people tend to be long-winded storytellers, as do the Irish. Therefore, when you combine the two, you get something that just hates to shut up... In other words, this is going to be a long post...
Second, this particular post is not about DF. This post is about a very special little girl, who today just melted my heart completely...
Some of you know this, but for those who don't, every summer during the break from school, I teach traditional native crafts to young kids. I've been doing this for years, and this year has been sort of bittersweet for me, because it's the last time that I'll be doing this in Vermont. Hopefully, once I've relocated, I'll be able to find a way to do this again, because it is truly something that I have a passion for doing.
Anyway, I have a student, a little girl, (all of my students this year are girls, which makes for some interesting classes, believe me...), who is ten-almost-eleven years old. She'll be eleven in a couple of weeks, which she never tires of letting people know. This little girl has been coming to these summer classes for three years now. Two years ago, she lost her mother to cancer. Since then, she's been this very fragile little thing emotionally - she will cry at the drop of a hat, if she even *suspects* that someone may be upset with her. She's a great kid, just very fragile, and still trying to get over the loss of her mother. Her Dad is a great guy, but still, she's had a rough time.
Every week, this little girl stays late to help me to repack all of the materials that I've brought for that day, and to clean up the classroom where we have the class. Most of what I teach is traditional beadwork. When working with beads, they're put in small cups, sorted out by color and size. Several weeks ago, she was helping with clean up, and she was carrying a tray that had at least ten colors of seed beads (*very* tiny beads) on it, all in different containers. These containers are open, like small bowls. As she was bringing them to me, she dropped the tray. Several thousand seed beads all over the room. This poor kid stood there, and tears started to run down her face. I got her calmed down, and we swept up the beads, and put them all in one container - my plan was to bring them home, resort them by color, and keep using them.
But this poor kid was so upset with herself. I talked with DF about it in IM one day, and I decided to give the container of beads to the little girl. I told her that they're "Rainbow beads now, and they're special, because you made the rainbow." I told her that I wanted her to have them, but she had to do one thing: She had to use some of them to make something for me.
Now, every year, all of the kids have to do a final project - something that they make that they get a "sort of" grade on for the summer. They do get some art credit for this class with the school here. Now, as I said, she is ten-almost-eleven years old. And I believe that she is just now discovering this mysterious power that females have over males, though I'm sure she has no idea yet exactly *why* they have this power. In typical "feminine wiles" fashion, she asked me if she could use what she made for me as her final project, too. I told her that would be fine. And walked away knowing that I'd been had by a ten-almost-eleven-year-old...
Last week, during class, she had to "take a measurement" of my upper arm. At that point I had a good idea of what she was going to be making. During this process, she commented, "Boy, you have little arms!" A couple of days later, I got a phone call from her Dad, asking where he could get some black suede leather, because his daughter "needs it for something." I told him I'd give him some, it was easier and faster. Then, I got an email from him, asking if I might have a loom pattern for beading a wolf's paw. I sent him one.
Today, I went to what was my final class here. I was feeling a little down about it, but I was doing okay. The last class is always just a discussion about what the kids have learned this year, and then they show me their final projects. During the discussion part, I let them know that this is my last summer doing this. This little girl I've been talking about got very quiet, and a tear rolled down her face, but she held up. The images below are pics that I took of the armband that she made for me. Now, before you open these pics, please keep in mind that this was made by a ten-almost-eleven-year-old, and in some respects, that shows. {Also, please ignore my skinny little arms...
} But trust me when I tell you that for something that was produced by a ten-almost-eleven-year-old, this is a remarkable piece of work. She beaded in a wolf's paw at each end of this armband, sewed it to a piece of leather, and attached a feather, on which she had painted another representation of a wolf's paw. She told me that she didn't use a pattern other than the wolf's paws, because she wanted all of the "rainbow beads" to look the way they did when she dropped the tray, and then picked them up... The feather struck me - she wrapped the quill quite well, and her work on painting the wolf's paw is awesome...
As usual, she stayed after class to help me clean up and pack. While we were doing that, she was very quiet. We were almost done, and she finally asked me why I won't be back next year. I told her that I was moving, and that I was moving to another part of the country. Then she said, "But, who's going to teach the class next year?" I told her that I wasn't sure, but that I'd do my best to find someone to take it over for me. (Note: A former student of mine, who is now eighteen, and does traditional craft work for a living now, told me a few minutes ago that she'd be more than happy to commit to taking it over. I couldn't ask for a better person to take this class - her work goes far beyond anything that I do.) Her Dad came to pick her up about then, and she said, "Dad, Black Wolf isn't going to be teaching the class anymore." Again, I explained about moving, this time with a bit more detail - telling him about the impending divorce. He shook my hand, thanked me, and said that the kids would miss me.
As we left the building, this little girl wrapped her arms around me, and started to cry. She told me she was going to miss me, and she asked me if I'd write to her. I told her that I would, if it was okay with her Dad. He said of course, and then she said, "And can I write to you, too? Or email you?" I looked at her Dad, and he just nodded to me, so I told her that of course she can write to me. I couldn't let go of her for a couple of minutes, because now *I* was crying...
Anyway, we all calmed down, and she went and got in the car, and I talked to her Dad for a few minutes. He thanked me again, and told me that this summer class has been something that's helped her to stay focused on something other than losing her mom a couple of years ago. Before they left, I went to the car, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and told her that I'm going to miss her. She was still crying, but she smiled at me. Just before they left, she looked at me and said, "Black Wolf? Don't forget, you have to write to me. You promised." I told her I would, and they drove away, and I stood there for a couple more minutes crying, waiting for my son to pick me up...
Amazing how a little ten-almost-eleven-year-old girl showed me today that even though I may be leaving some things behind here, I'm also taking some very, very precious things with me. My Grandfather once told me that I should always keep in my mind this fact: "Every single thing that you do or say has the potential to have a profound impact on the people around you." Today, for the first time, that lesson was brought home to me by a little girl.
So, even though she won't see these words - at least not until she's old enough to be here in Lit...
K, I want you to know that you have taught me a valuable lesson. And I want you to know that where ever I go, you will always be with me in my heart, and in my memories of you. I'll make sure to send my wolf to check on you from time to time. Good luck to you, Sweetie - I know you're going to take the world by storm one day.
First, I am a true "half-breed." I am half Cree, half Irish. Indian people tend to be long-winded storytellers, as do the Irish. Therefore, when you combine the two, you get something that just hates to shut up... In other words, this is going to be a long post...
Second, this particular post is not about DF. This post is about a very special little girl, who today just melted my heart completely...
Some of you know this, but for those who don't, every summer during the break from school, I teach traditional native crafts to young kids. I've been doing this for years, and this year has been sort of bittersweet for me, because it's the last time that I'll be doing this in Vermont. Hopefully, once I've relocated, I'll be able to find a way to do this again, because it is truly something that I have a passion for doing.
Anyway, I have a student, a little girl, (all of my students this year are girls, which makes for some interesting classes, believe me...), who is ten-almost-eleven years old. She'll be eleven in a couple of weeks, which she never tires of letting people know. This little girl has been coming to these summer classes for three years now. Two years ago, she lost her mother to cancer. Since then, she's been this very fragile little thing emotionally - she will cry at the drop of a hat, if she even *suspects* that someone may be upset with her. She's a great kid, just very fragile, and still trying to get over the loss of her mother. Her Dad is a great guy, but still, she's had a rough time.
Every week, this little girl stays late to help me to repack all of the materials that I've brought for that day, and to clean up the classroom where we have the class. Most of what I teach is traditional beadwork. When working with beads, they're put in small cups, sorted out by color and size. Several weeks ago, she was helping with clean up, and she was carrying a tray that had at least ten colors of seed beads (*very* tiny beads) on it, all in different containers. These containers are open, like small bowls. As she was bringing them to me, she dropped the tray. Several thousand seed beads all over the room. This poor kid stood there, and tears started to run down her face. I got her calmed down, and we swept up the beads, and put them all in one container - my plan was to bring them home, resort them by color, and keep using them.
But this poor kid was so upset with herself. I talked with DF about it in IM one day, and I decided to give the container of beads to the little girl. I told her that they're "Rainbow beads now, and they're special, because you made the rainbow." I told her that I wanted her to have them, but she had to do one thing: She had to use some of them to make something for me.
Now, every year, all of the kids have to do a final project - something that they make that they get a "sort of" grade on for the summer. They do get some art credit for this class with the school here. Now, as I said, she is ten-almost-eleven years old. And I believe that she is just now discovering this mysterious power that females have over males, though I'm sure she has no idea yet exactly *why* they have this power. In typical "feminine wiles" fashion, she asked me if she could use what she made for me as her final project, too. I told her that would be fine. And walked away knowing that I'd been had by a ten-almost-eleven-year-old...
Last week, during class, she had to "take a measurement" of my upper arm. At that point I had a good idea of what she was going to be making. During this process, she commented, "Boy, you have little arms!" A couple of days later, I got a phone call from her Dad, asking where he could get some black suede leather, because his daughter "needs it for something." I told him I'd give him some, it was easier and faster. Then, I got an email from him, asking if I might have a loom pattern for beading a wolf's paw. I sent him one.
Today, I went to what was my final class here. I was feeling a little down about it, but I was doing okay. The last class is always just a discussion about what the kids have learned this year, and then they show me their final projects. During the discussion part, I let them know that this is my last summer doing this. This little girl I've been talking about got very quiet, and a tear rolled down her face, but she held up. The images below are pics that I took of the armband that she made for me. Now, before you open these pics, please keep in mind that this was made by a ten-almost-eleven-year-old, and in some respects, that shows. {Also, please ignore my skinny little arms...
} But trust me when I tell you that for something that was produced by a ten-almost-eleven-year-old, this is a remarkable piece of work. She beaded in a wolf's paw at each end of this armband, sewed it to a piece of leather, and attached a feather, on which she had painted another representation of a wolf's paw. She told me that she didn't use a pattern other than the wolf's paws, because she wanted all of the "rainbow beads" to look the way they did when she dropped the tray, and then picked them up... The feather struck me - she wrapped the quill quite well, and her work on painting the wolf's paw is awesome...As usual, she stayed after class to help me clean up and pack. While we were doing that, she was very quiet. We were almost done, and she finally asked me why I won't be back next year. I told her that I was moving, and that I was moving to another part of the country. Then she said, "But, who's going to teach the class next year?" I told her that I wasn't sure, but that I'd do my best to find someone to take it over for me. (Note: A former student of mine, who is now eighteen, and does traditional craft work for a living now, told me a few minutes ago that she'd be more than happy to commit to taking it over. I couldn't ask for a better person to take this class - her work goes far beyond anything that I do.) Her Dad came to pick her up about then, and she said, "Dad, Black Wolf isn't going to be teaching the class anymore." Again, I explained about moving, this time with a bit more detail - telling him about the impending divorce. He shook my hand, thanked me, and said that the kids would miss me.
As we left the building, this little girl wrapped her arms around me, and started to cry. She told me she was going to miss me, and she asked me if I'd write to her. I told her that I would, if it was okay with her Dad. He said of course, and then she said, "And can I write to you, too? Or email you?" I looked at her Dad, and he just nodded to me, so I told her that of course she can write to me. I couldn't let go of her for a couple of minutes, because now *I* was crying...
Anyway, we all calmed down, and she went and got in the car, and I talked to her Dad for a few minutes. He thanked me again, and told me that this summer class has been something that's helped her to stay focused on something other than losing her mom a couple of years ago. Before they left, I went to the car, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and told her that I'm going to miss her. She was still crying, but she smiled at me. Just before they left, she looked at me and said, "Black Wolf? Don't forget, you have to write to me. You promised." I told her I would, and they drove away, and I stood there for a couple more minutes crying, waiting for my son to pick me up...
Amazing how a little ten-almost-eleven-year-old girl showed me today that even though I may be leaving some things behind here, I'm also taking some very, very precious things with me. My Grandfather once told me that I should always keep in my mind this fact: "Every single thing that you do or say has the potential to have a profound impact on the people around you." Today, for the first time, that lesson was brought home to me by a little girl.
So, even though she won't see these words - at least not until she's old enough to be here in Lit...
K, I want you to know that you have taught me a valuable lesson. And I want you to know that where ever I go, you will always be with me in my heart, and in my memories of you. I'll make sure to send my wolf to check on you from time to time. Good luck to you, Sweetie - I know you're going to take the world by storm one day.
OMG, BW....I would have cried and slobbered all over that thing. That is beautiful, and I like the rainbow look. And I studied art for ten years, and seeing that I was never lucky enough to do any beadwork, that armband is amazingly talented to me. I am so happy that you got that same girl to come teach for you next year, that is wonderful, what a legacy! And as for all the little girls in your classroom, remember what I told you months ago? It's all about the moustache, baby, lol! I am so happy for you that you were able to have such a nice memory to keep. {{{{BW}}}}
I am so happy for you that you were able to have such a nice memory to keep. {{{{BW}}}}
BlackWolf65
Alpha Lycan
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2006
- Posts
- 15,721
You know, if you've ever tried to sew on leather, you can appreciate some of the work that went into this - it's NOT easy...Foof76 said:OMG, BW....I would have cried and slobbered all over that thing. That is beautiful, and I like the rainbow look. And I studied art for ten years, and seeing that I was never lucky enough to do any beadwork, that armband is amazingly talented to me. I am so happy that you got that same girl to come teach for you next year, that is wonderful, what a legacy! And as for all the little girls in your classroom, remember what I told you months ago? It's all about the moustache, baby, lol!
And I did say that I cried... I was minimizing - I was a friggin' baby, Foof, I really was...
WildandBlue
Experienced
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2006
- Posts
- 71
I am new to this site, and luckily found your story.
I am just stunned, there aren't words really.
Thank you for sharing it.
I am just stunned, there aren't words really.
Thank you for sharing it.
cheekygirl
*Naughty lil minx*
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2004
- Posts
- 1,873
.....
Last edited:
alisonwunderlnd
pink cupcake princess
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2006
- Posts
- 23,344
Thank you..plain and simple really ,but THANK you..
G
Guest
Guest
WOW!!
I'm speechless...
Anyone who knows me... knows that's a rare event!!
Awesome BW... and her work is GOOD... she had a great teacher obviously... you should be proud.
I'm speechless...
Anyone who knows me... knows that's a rare event!!
Awesome BW... and her work is GOOD... she had a great teacher obviously... you should be proud.
BlackWolf65 said:My little disclaimer(s):
First, I am a true "half-breed." I am half Cree, half Irish. Indian people tend to be long-winded storytellers, as do the Irish. Therefore, when you combine the two, you get something that just hates to shut up... In other words, this is going to be a long post...
Second, this particular post is not about DF. This post is about a very special little girl, who today just melted my heart completely...
Some of you know this, but for those who don't, every summer during the break from school, I teach traditional native crafts to young kids. I've been doing this for years, and this year has been sort of bittersweet for me, because it's the last time that I'll be doing this in Vermont. Hopefully, once I've relocated, I'll be able to find a way to do this again, because it is truly something that I have a passion for doing.
Anyway, I have a student, a little girl, (all of my students this year are girls, which makes for some interesting classes, believe me...), who is ten-almost-eleven years old. She'll be eleven in a couple of weeks, which she never tires of letting people know. This little girl has been coming to these summer classes for three years now. Two years ago, she lost her mother to cancer. Since then, she's been this very fragile little thing emotionally - she will cry at the drop of a hat, if she even *suspects* that someone may be upset with her. She's a great kid, just very fragile, and still trying to get over the loss of her mother. Her Dad is a great guy, but still, she's had a rough time.
Every week, this little girl stays late to help me to repack all of the materials that I've brought for that day, and to clean up the classroom where we have the class. Most of what I teach is traditional beadwork. When working with beads, they're put in small cups, sorted out by color and size. Several weeks ago, she was helping with clean up, and she was carrying a tray that had at least ten colors of seed beads (*very* tiny beads) on it, all in different containers. These containers are open, like small bowls. As she was bringing them to me, she dropped the tray. Several thousand seed beads all over the room. This poor kid stood there, and tears started to run down her face. I got her calmed down, and we swept up the beads, and put them all in one container - my plan was to bring them home, resort them by color, and keep using them.
But this poor kid was so upset with herself. I talked with DF about it in IM one day, and I decided to give the container of beads to the little girl. I told her that they're "Rainbow beads now, and they're special, because you made the rainbow." I told her that I wanted her to have them, but she had to do one thing: She had to use some of them to make something for me.
Now, every year, all of the kids have to do a final project - something that they make that they get a "sort of" grade on for the summer. They do get some art credit for this class with the school here. Now, as I said, she is ten-almost-eleven years old. And I believe that she is just now discovering this mysterious power that females have over males, though I'm sure she has no idea yet exactly *why* they have this power. In typical "feminine wiles" fashion, she asked me if she could use what she made for me as her final project, too. I told her that would be fine. And walked away knowing that I'd been had by a ten-almost-eleven-year-old...
Last week, during class, she had to "take a measurement" of my upper arm. At that point I had a good idea of what she was going to be making. During this process, she commented, "Boy, you have little arms!" A couple of days later, I got a phone call from her Dad, asking where he could get some black suede leather, because his daughter "needs it for something." I told him I'd give him some, it was easier and faster. Then, I got an email from him, asking if I might have a loom pattern for beading a wolf's paw. I sent him one.
Today, I went to what was my final class here. I was feeling a little down about it, but I was doing okay. The last class is always just a discussion about what the kids have learned this year, and then they show me their final projects. During the discussion part, I let them know that this is my last summer doing this. This little girl I've been talking about got very quiet, and a tear rolled down her face, but she held up. The images below are pics that I took of the armband that she made for me. Now, before you open these pics, please keep in mind that this was made by a ten-almost-eleven-year-old, and in some respects, that shows. {Also, please ignore my skinny little arms...
As usual, she stayed after class to help me clean up and pack. While we were doing that, she was very quiet. We were almost done, and she finally asked me why I won't be back next year. I told her that I was moving, and that I was moving to another part of the country. Then she said, "But, who's going to teach the class next year?" I told her that I wasn't sure, but that I'd do my best to find someone to take it over for me. (Note: A former student of mine, who is now eighteen, and does traditional craft work for a living now, told me a few minutes ago that she'd be more than happy to commit to taking it over. I couldn't ask for a better person to take this class - her work goes far beyond anything that I do.) Her Dad came to pick her up about then, and she said, "Dad, Black Wolf isn't going to be teaching the class anymore." Again, I explained about moving, this time with a bit more detail - telling him about the impending divorce. He shook my hand, thanked me, and said that the kids would miss me.
As we left the building, this little girl wrapped her arms around me, and started to cry. She told me she was going to miss me, and she asked me if I'd write to her. I told her that I would, if it was okay with her Dad. He said of course, and then she said, "And can I write to you, too? Or email you?" I looked at her Dad, and he just nodded to me, so I told her that of course she can write to me. I couldn't let go of her for a couple of minutes, because now *I* was crying...
Anyway, we all calmed down, and she went and got in the car, and I talked to her Dad for a few minutes. He thanked me again, and told me that this summer class has been something that's helped her to stay focused on something other than losing her mom a couple of years ago. Before they left, I went to the car, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and told her that I'm going to miss her. She was still crying, but she smiled at me. Just before they left, she looked at me and said, "Black Wolf? Don't forget, you have to write to me. You promised." I told her I would, and they drove away, and I stood there for a couple more minutes crying, waiting for my son to pick me up...
Amazing how a little ten-almost-eleven-year-old girl showed me today that even though I may be leaving some things behind here, I'm also taking some very, very precious things with me. My Grandfather once told me that I should always keep in my mind this fact: "Every single thing that you do or say has the potential to have a profound impact on the people around you." Today, for the first time, that lesson was brought home to me by a little girl.
So, even though she won't see these words - at least not until she's old enough to be here in Lit...
K, I want you to know that you have taught me a valuable lesson. And I want you to know that where ever I go, you will always be with me in my heart, and in my memories of you. I'll make sure to send my wolf to check on you from time to time. Good luck to you, Sweetie - I know you're going to take the world by storm one day.
Diamond_Girl
Chaos Agent
- Joined
- May 1, 2006
- Posts
- 3,617
To My DT...
Two days ago you re-entered my life. Or maybe it's fairer to say that you'd never really left it. If you had've, wouldn't I have taken you off my chat list or deleted your emails? Granted, it'd been quite a while since we had last spoken, but the fact that we were thinking of each other in that time, wondering how the other was doing... Amazing.
We've got a good start at rekindling what we had. I know it's still early days, yet, but I have high hopes for what we'll be - together. I look forward to hours of talking to you today and am excited about the beautiful moments we'll share. Love you, darling.
Two days ago you re-entered my life. Or maybe it's fairer to say that you'd never really left it. If you had've, wouldn't I have taken you off my chat list or deleted your emails? Granted, it'd been quite a while since we had last spoken, but the fact that we were thinking of each other in that time, wondering how the other was doing... Amazing.
We've got a good start at rekindling what we had. I know it's still early days, yet, but I have high hopes for what we'll be - together. I look forward to hours of talking to you today and am excited about the beautiful moments we'll share. Love you, darling.
BlackWolf65
Alpha Lycan
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2006
- Posts
- 15,721
Now *that* is nice...hallaow said:
SheRemembers
Don't wait too long...
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2006
- Posts
- 8,847
BlackWolf65 said:My little disclaimer(s):
First, I am a true "half-breed." I am half Cree, half Irish. Indian people tend to be long-winded storytellers, as do the Irish. Therefore, when you combine the two, you get something that just hates to shut up... In other words, this is going to be a long post...
~SNIP~
So, even though she won't see these words - at least not until she's old enough to be here in Lit...
K, I want you to know that you have taught me a valuable lesson. And I want you to know that where ever I go, you will always be with me in my heart, and in my memories of you. I'll make sure to send my wolf to check on you from time to time. Good luck to you, Sweetie - I know you're going to take the world by storm one day.
See?! I knew you were a teacher! Really adorable, BW. There are always those tiny moments when you really connect with a student... they're almost indescribable. Sometimes they come farther apart then others, but it's one of the reasons I'm "addicted" to teaching, in one form or another...
BlackWolf65
Alpha Lycan
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2006
- Posts
- 15,721
You know, I never really thought of it as being addicted to "teaching." It's just something that I do every summer, that I really, *really* love to do. But I guess you're right - I'm addicted to teaching, at least in this form...SheRemembers said:
JennyOmanHill
trying hard to be mindful
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2001
- Posts
- 11,151
Thank you, BW
Your armband is amazing! That little girl will never forget you, and the fact that you turned a very upsetting incident for her into a "rainbow" is a lesson for her as well.
Thank you for sharing your last day of summer teaching into a story we all can share (my eyes are "watering" right now!!).
May next summer find you spreading your talent to a new part of the country, and may things go smoothly with your BIG move.
Your armband is amazing! That little girl will never forget you, and the fact that you turned a very upsetting incident for her into a "rainbow" is a lesson for her as well.
Thank you for sharing your last day of summer teaching into a story we all can share (my eyes are "watering" right now!!).
May next summer find you spreading your talent to a new part of the country, and may things go smoothly with your BIG move.
celticlass
Endless Slow Dance
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2005
- Posts
- 2,026
The One Who Can Always Make My Heart Melt
Three years ago this past Saturday we brought her home for the second time, after a suspected infection and high bilirubin levels caused us to spend nine days at the hospital with our newborn. Putting aside the misery and worry of those days, as well as the fatigue of being new parents in crisis, I can now look back on those days with happiness of what I learned, what we experienced and what the past three years have given us.
I think the best part of those nine days were the nights. My husband would come up to the hospital at dinner time, anxious to be with his girls. We'd eat dinner while the unit was on lock-down, then spend the evening together as a family, often staying at the hospital until 11:00 before going back home, leaving our precious little girl in the compassionate, capable care of the transitional care unit staff. With life being so busy and hectic of late, I find myself missing those hours on end when it's just "us."
I remember looking down at her red face for the first time after 26 hours of labor and a rather difficult delivery. When they said, "It's a girl," I looked at my husband and said, "You done good." (He'd been hoping for a boy. Typical male ) As I held her in my arms, I just marveled. Her head was capped with her daddy's black curls (which have since fallen out to be replaced with lighter brown ones), her eyes were dark brown like her grandma's, and I just wondered how her tiny, fragile little eyelids could hold up such thick, long, black lashes. And that little button nose. Oh my goodness! She was so tiny - only 5 lbs., 6 ozs. - but she was perfect.
Three years later, she's still perfect. She talks, she sings, she runs and plays. And she prays. She looks just like me, though she's got the best of her daddy, too. She will ask for "more broccoli, please" and say "Thank you" after she gets it. She considers not getting to read her toddler Bible punishment of the worst sort. She loves playing in water. When I came home from work Sunday, she greeted me with the garden hose and this very mischievous gleam in her eye. Yep, I had to change clothes, but I was laughing all the way into the house.
She is my joy, my light, my perfect little girl. And she can always make my heart melt.
Three years ago this past Saturday we brought her home for the second time, after a suspected infection and high bilirubin levels caused us to spend nine days at the hospital with our newborn. Putting aside the misery and worry of those days, as well as the fatigue of being new parents in crisis, I can now look back on those days with happiness of what I learned, what we experienced and what the past three years have given us.
I think the best part of those nine days were the nights. My husband would come up to the hospital at dinner time, anxious to be with his girls. We'd eat dinner while the unit was on lock-down, then spend the evening together as a family, often staying at the hospital until 11:00 before going back home, leaving our precious little girl in the compassionate, capable care of the transitional care unit staff. With life being so busy and hectic of late, I find myself missing those hours on end when it's just "us."
I remember looking down at her red face for the first time after 26 hours of labor and a rather difficult delivery. When they said, "It's a girl," I looked at my husband and said, "You done good." (He'd been hoping for a boy. Typical male
) As I held her in my arms, I just marveled. Her head was capped with her daddy's black curls (which have since fallen out to be replaced with lighter brown ones), her eyes were dark brown like her grandma's, and I just wondered how her tiny, fragile little eyelids could hold up such thick, long, black lashes. And that little button nose. Oh my goodness! She was so tiny - only 5 lbs., 6 ozs. - but she was perfect.Three years later, she's still perfect. She talks, she sings, she runs and plays. And she prays. She looks just like me, though she's got the best of her daddy, too. She will ask for "more broccoli, please" and say "Thank you" after she gets it. She considers not getting to read her toddler Bible punishment of the worst sort. She loves playing in water. When I came home from work Sunday, she greeted me with the garden hose and this very mischievous gleam in her eye. Yep, I had to change clothes, but I was laughing all the way into the house.
She is my joy, my light, my perfect little girl. And she can always make my heart melt.
BlackWolf65
Alpha Lycan
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2006
- Posts
- 15,721
Thanks, Jenny... She is an amazing little girl, and I'll never forget her...JennyOmanHill said:Your armband is amazing! That little girl will never forget you, and the fact that you turned a very upsetting incident for her into a "rainbow" is a lesson for her as well.
Thank you for sharing your last day of summer teaching into a story we all can share (my eyes are "watering" right now!!).
May next summer find you spreading your talent to a new part of the country, and may things go smoothly with your BIG move.
celticlass
Endless Slow Dance
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2005
- Posts
- 2,026
OMGosh, BW...
The armband is exquisite and shows the great admiration and affection this little girl has for you! Thank you so much for sharing that and the story with us!
The armband is exquisite and shows the great admiration and affection this little girl has for you! Thank you so much for sharing that and the story with us!
BlackWolf65
Alpha Lycan
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2006
- Posts
- 15,721
Actually, I'd like to thank everyone for their warm reactions to the story. The actions of a little girl have touched a lot of people...celticlass said:The armband is exquisite and shows the great admiration and affection this little girl has for you! Thank you so much for sharing that and the story with us!
G
Guest
Guest
With my father-in-law close to his last days on this planet I would just like to say I love you Ray... and I will miss you immensely. You have been a father to me since we first met 24 years ago.... as my own wonderful father died when I was 18. You were great!!
G
Guest
Guest
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::hugs:: I hope he passes easily... The last death I went through was my grandfather's, and it was extremely long for him... Prayers for everyoneDirtyBear said:With my father-in-law close to his last days on this planet I would just like to say I love you Ray... and I will miss you immensely. You have been a father to me since we first met 24 years ago.... as my own wonderful father died when I was 18. You were great!!
Wistful_Rose
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2006
- Posts
- 353
Just got around to reading this BW, and now I'm trying to type while wiping tears from my eyes. What a lovely story about an equally lovely little girl and her awesome teacher. She did a wonderful job on the armband, and I know you will wear it proudly.
Thank you for sharing your story BW. ((((BW))))
Rose
She did a wonderful job on the armband, and I know you will wear it proudly.Thank you for sharing your story BW. ((((BW))))
Rose BlackWolf65 said:My little disclaimer(s):
First, I am a true "half-breed." I am half Cree, half Irish. Indian people tend to be long-winded storytellers, as do the Irish. Therefore, when you combine the two, you get something that just hates to shut up... In other words, this is going to be a long post...
Second, this particular post is not about DF. This post is about a very special little girl, who today just melted my heart completely...
Some of you know this, but for those who don't, every summer during the break from school, I teach traditional native crafts to young kids. I've been doing this for years, and this year has been sort of bittersweet for me, because it's the last time that I'll be doing this in Vermont. Hopefully, once I've relocated, I'll be able to find a way to do this again, because it is truly something that I have a passion for doing.
Anyway, I have a student, a little girl, (all of my students this year are girls, which makes for some interesting classes, believe me...), who is ten-almost-eleven years old. She'll be eleven in a couple of weeks, which she never tires of letting people know. This little girl has been coming to these summer classes for three years now. Two years ago, she lost her mother to cancer. Since then, she's been this very fragile little thing emotionally - she will cry at the drop of a hat, if she even *suspects* that someone may be upset with her. She's a great kid, just very fragile, and still trying to get over the loss of her mother. Her Dad is a great guy, but still, she's had a rough time.
Every week, this little girl stays late to help me to repack all of the materials that I've brought for that day, and to clean up the classroom where we have the class. Most of what I teach is traditional beadwork. When working with beads, they're put in small cups, sorted out by color and size. Several weeks ago, she was helping with clean up, and she was carrying a tray that had at least ten colors of seed beads (*very* tiny beads) on it, all in different containers. These containers are open, like small bowls. As she was bringing them to me, she dropped the tray. Several thousand seed beads all over the room. This poor kid stood there, and tears started to run down her face. I got her calmed down, and we swept up the beads, and put them all in one container - my plan was to bring them home, resort them by color, and keep using them.
But this poor kid was so upset with herself. I talked with DF about it in IM one day, and I decided to give the container of beads to the little girl. I told her that they're "Rainbow beads now, and they're special, because you made the rainbow." I told her that I wanted her to have them, but she had to do one thing: She had to use some of them to make something for me.
Now, every year, all of the kids have to do a final project - something that they make that they get a "sort of" grade on for the summer. They do get some art credit for this class with the school here. Now, as I said, she is ten-almost-eleven years old. And I believe that she is just now discovering this mysterious power that females have over males, though I'm sure she has no idea yet exactly *why* they have this power. In typical "feminine wiles" fashion, she asked me if she could use what she made for me as her final project, too. I told her that would be fine. And walked away knowing that I'd been had by a ten-almost-eleven-year-old...
Last week, during class, she had to "take a measurement" of my upper arm. At that point I had a good idea of what she was going to be making. During this process, she commented, "Boy, you have little arms!" A couple of days later, I got a phone call from her Dad, asking where he could get some black suede leather, because his daughter "needs it for something." I told him I'd give him some, it was easier and faster. Then, I got an email from him, asking if I might have a loom pattern for beading a wolf's paw. I sent him one.
Today, I went to what was my final class here. I was feeling a little down about it, but I was doing okay. The last class is always just a discussion about what the kids have learned this year, and then they show me their final projects. During the discussion part, I let them know that this is my last summer doing this. This little girl I've been talking about got very quiet, and a tear rolled down her face, but she held up. The images below are pics that I took of the armband that she made for me. Now, before you open these pics, please keep in mind that this was made by a ten-almost-eleven-year-old, and in some respects, that shows. {Also, please ignore my skinny little arms...
As usual, she stayed after class to help me clean up and pack. While we were doing that, she was very quiet. We were almost done, and she finally asked me why I won't be back next year. I told her that I was moving, and that I was moving to another part of the country. Then she said, "But, who's going to teach the class next year?" I told her that I wasn't sure, but that I'd do my best to find someone to take it over for me. (Note: A former student of mine, who is now eighteen, and does traditional craft work for a living now, told me a few minutes ago that she'd be more than happy to commit to taking it over. I couldn't ask for a better person to take this class - her work goes far beyond anything that I do.) Her Dad came to pick her up about then, and she said, "Dad, Black Wolf isn't going to be teaching the class anymore." Again, I explained about moving, this time with a bit more detail - telling him about the impending divorce. He shook my hand, thanked me, and said that the kids would miss me.
As we left the building, this little girl wrapped her arms around me, and started to cry. She told me she was going to miss me, and she asked me if I'd write to her. I told her that I would, if it was okay with her Dad. He said of course, and then she said, "And can I write to you, too? Or email you?" I looked at her Dad, and he just nodded to me, so I told her that of course she can write to me. I couldn't let go of her for a couple of minutes, because now *I* was crying...
Anyway, we all calmed down, and she went and got in the car, and I talked to her Dad for a few minutes. He thanked me again, and told me that this summer class has been something that's helped her to stay focused on something other than losing her mom a couple of years ago. Before they left, I went to the car, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and told her that I'm going to miss her. She was still crying, but she smiled at me. Just before they left, she looked at me and said, "Black Wolf? Don't forget, you have to write to me. You promised." I told her I would, and they drove away, and I stood there for a couple more minutes crying, waiting for my son to pick me up...
Amazing how a little ten-almost-eleven-year-old girl showed me today that even though I may be leaving some things behind here, I'm also taking some very, very precious things with me. My Grandfather once told me that I should always keep in my mind this fact: "Every single thing that you do or say has the potential to have a profound impact on the people around you." Today, for the first time, that lesson was brought home to me by a little girl.
So, even though she won't see these words - at least not until she's old enough to be here in Lit...
K, I want you to know that you have taught me a valuable lesson. And I want you to know that where ever I go, you will always be with me in my heart, and in my memories of you. I'll make sure to send my wolf to check on you from time to time. Good luck to you, Sweetie - I know you're going to take the world by storm one day.
BlackWolf65
Alpha Lycan
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2006
- Posts
- 15,721
Thank you, Rose... As I said in an earlier post, she's touched more people than she knows, or probably ever will... But then - those are the most important ones: The ones that we touch in some way and never know about...Wistful_Rose said:Just got around to reading this BW, and now I'm trying to type while wiping tears from my eyes. What a lovely story about an equally lovely little girl and her awesome teacher.
Thank you for sharing your story BW. ((((BW))))
She did an *awesome* job on that piece... The powwow season is over in my area for the year, but next year, when I've located them in the area I'm moving to, it *will* be worn proudly...
omahaman2
Here's your sign
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2001
- Posts
- 18,171
Jenny,
not my words
but they say it all!!
The first time I looked in your eyes I knew
That I would do anything for you
The first time you touched my face I felt
What I've never felt with anyone else
I wanna give back what you've givin' to me
And I wanna witness all of your dreams
Now that you've shown me who I really am
I wanna be more then just your man
I wanna be the wind that fills your sails
And be the hand that lifts your veil
Be the moon that moves your tide
The sun coming up in your eyes
Be the wheel that never rusts
And be the spark that lights you up
All that you've been dreaming of and more
So much more, I wanna be your everything...
When you wake up, I'll be the first thing you see
And when it gets dark you can reach out to me
I'll cherish your words and I'll finish your thoughts
And I'll be your compass baby, when you get lost
I wanna be the wind that fills your sails
And be the hand that lifts your veil
Be the moon that moves your tide
The sun coming up in your eyes
Be the wheel that never rusts
Be the spark that lights you up
All that you've been dreaming of and more
So much more, I wanna be your everything...
I'll be the wheel that never rusts
And be the spark that lights you up
All that you've been dreaming of and more
So much more, I wanna be your everything...
I wanna be your everything
I wanna be your everything
I wanna be your everything
not my words
but they say it all!!
The first time I looked in your eyes I knew
That I would do anything for you
The first time you touched my face I felt
What I've never felt with anyone else
I wanna give back what you've givin' to me
And I wanna witness all of your dreams
Now that you've shown me who I really am
I wanna be more then just your man
I wanna be the wind that fills your sails
And be the hand that lifts your veil
Be the moon that moves your tide
The sun coming up in your eyes
Be the wheel that never rusts
And be the spark that lights you up
All that you've been dreaming of and more
So much more, I wanna be your everything...
When you wake up, I'll be the first thing you see
And when it gets dark you can reach out to me
I'll cherish your words and I'll finish your thoughts
And I'll be your compass baby, when you get lost
I wanna be the wind that fills your sails
And be the hand that lifts your veil
Be the moon that moves your tide
The sun coming up in your eyes
Be the wheel that never rusts
Be the spark that lights you up
All that you've been dreaming of and more
So much more, I wanna be your everything...
I'll be the wheel that never rusts
And be the spark that lights you up
All that you've been dreaming of and more
So much more, I wanna be your everything...
I wanna be your everything
I wanna be your everything
I wanna be your everything
