Good Bye Mr. Strauss

   There are many things from my mom's generation that baffle me, especially reading the ink off the obit page! If anyone in Jacksonville, Florida (My Hometown) dies, my mom has text me! Even from her hospital bed, I kid you not. Last week, in between breathing treatments, I received an email letting me know that my fifth grade teacher had died. Only you mom, maybe Trudy(my sister loved the obits also) would keep me in the death loop. I appreciate it, seriously. Good manners require us in the south, to crawl in the coffin and pay our respects! So again, thank you mom.
   Now back to the who?
   I have combed my house looking for the fifth grade class picture, to no avail. I will find it, and post it one day, and you will not remember the reason why? or maybe from my words, you will know Mr. Strauss.

   He was 91, which freaked me out. How could he be so old? In my minds eye he is in his late....oh I thought he was old back then, all of thirty something, this big man, my teacher. I had never had a male teacher, and was a nervous Nelly. His voice was low, his dress shirts were pressed, you could hear him coming a mile away. Very tall and broad shoulders, his sleeves always rolled up, in the sweltering heat of Florida. Our room, was a converted attic, and that was exciting. The fans would spin all day, dust and heat, coated your throat. I remember Mr. Strauss had sweat stains, and wore cologne. This was all new to me. My daddy wore tee shirts and did not sweat like this. This new teacher was very different, and it was all new territory to me. He was not funny, all business. He loved Math, which was when I knew, this was going to be a long, bad year.
  At some point, I told Mr. Strauss to "shut up" or something like that, and he smiled. I did not think anything about it, he was just bugging me, who knows, I blame the heat. I went home, mom said, "Get in the car." she did not say why. She pulled in at the school, and then it hit me, somehow she knows what I did. She marched me up to the attic, and there was Mr. Strauss. Mom said, " Bonnie, do you have anything to say to Mr. Strauss?" ( not really, he needs to not be so bossy!) ( and he needs to do more art!) I cringed and said, " I am sorry for talking bad to you." He was a gracious receiver, and mom never said another word about it. 
 Mr. Strauss was much nicer to me after that, I think he respected my opinion, just not my delivery! He was one of my best teachers, I love him even now.
   He loved geography and maps, which I love to this day.
   I remember his quite way of teaching.
   He spoke without many words.
   He touched my heart.
   I would see him over the years, and he would always smile at me, with  a funny look in his eyes. Like what are you going to say now, Miss Bonnie! He towered over me, and would lean down and tell me, how proud he was of all my accomplishments. He never lost touch with my entire family. He knew our history, he was a part of that history.
  I feel so thankful that he lived a long life, and hope that happiness filled each day.
 I remember the pink dress I was wearing the day, I talked back to him, it was itchy. I should have told him, that was why, I slipped and spewed mean words! Mom I told you I did not like that dress!
 Sorry Mr. Strauss, and know that I love you.

Non Sequitur

  Non Sequitur by Wiley is in most daily newspapers. It is a comic strip, with no logic? or much logic?
  It is a delight!
  Most of us read the newspaper online, as do we, except for Thursday and Sunday. I just needed to smell and feel the newspaper, I could not go cold turkey. I know, often I am last in line for the best green footprint, but Iam working on it.
  On Thursday, March 14th, here is the dialog from this strip, that made me happy smile.
  Child- It's March Now, ( I love how they use caps!!) ( All stuff inside these marks are mine) And March Means Spring, So Why Do We Still Have Snow Out There?? ( I know we don't have snow, but its still in my frozen heart!)
   Dad- "Sigh" ( no surprise)
   Dad-  First Of All, The Arrival Of Spring Is Over A Week Away. Second The Weather Isn't Dictated By The Calendar.
   Child- ?????????? ( Thinking bubble)
   Child- I Don't Want Science!! I Want My Desired Results!!! ( Best line ever)
   Dad- PLEASE....Let's Keep Politics And Religion Out Of This.

  I just want my desired results, that is not a hard concept, is it?
  We all do, to some point. Some just have a sharper point! and no eraser!!

   All in all March, is still hanging low, windy and damp, with a ray of sunshine and hope breaking through from time to time. The best part is that Iam still here to enjoy it.

   My Hubs, Dr. Bill aka Sheldon, Bob Newhart, and Lassie( this is a compliment, people) is off on his spring break this week. We have painters in the house, so its a working spring break, so to speak. We have daily errand runs, that have caused me to double over in laughter.
  Bill does most of the grocery shopping, After me being in charge for so long, I released the reins. ( I know, hard to believe) Each time he comes home with what is on the list, no list, no groceries. I continually ask him, to think outside the box, and look around for new things, and it is just not going to happen. Or so I thought.
He comes in this week, with an empty box, of a chocolate Easter Cross! I ask him, "Were you hungry and who buys a chocolate cross?" He said, " It was small." I paused, " What does size have to do with it?" " I have never even seen a chocolate cross, do they have them with Jesus on the cross too?" He said, " I would have eaten that too." I am just standing there holding the empty box, hysterical laughing, " Bill this is just not normal, its even bad chocolate, did you not see a snickers or milky way bar?" the end...
  Then we? decide to go to Home Depot, for something? Not a trip I often make, but its his spring break, I want to be nice. We get there, with a spring in our step, and I say, " I am going to see cleaning supplies!" He says, " Bonnie, that is not normal, who goes to the cleaning supply isle in the Depot?"
I smiled, I got the not normal remark, then I replied, " I like to get my cleaning people new stuff, its my job to make people happy! and I will meet you in lighting!!"  He knows, because I like to look at lamps, and chandeliers!
  My desired results, you have to let each other be a little off center, live life full tilt. Marry a scientist and continue to be an artist.
  May the March winds be forever in your favor.
 

Pharrell Williams - Happy (Official Music Video)

    Most of our yard, this March morning, looks like an armpit stain.
    Then I saw them, bunches of daffodils poking their little heads at me.
    Pharrell sings it so well, Cause I'm Happy, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, dance moves everywhere!!
    ( Notice that I just use his first name, because I believe that we could be related, his last name is Williams! my mom's maiden name. OR....he knows how much I love him, and he would say, " Call me Pharrell, Bon-Bon!") ( See how personable he is!)
    It takes courage to be happy, and a shit load of hard work.
    About a year after we lost our young son, Ward age 25, a childhood friend called to check on me.
    She and I were connected in grief, and a lifelong friendship.
    After some frivolous chit chat, she asked, " Are you happy?"
    I was stunned, but understanding that it is never easy to talk to people after such a great tragedy.
    I slowly responded, " I am broken and shattered, but I am happy."
    There was a long pause.
    I then asked her, " How about you?"
    She quickly said, " I have never been happy a day in my life!"
    "YES you have!, I have been happy with you!" I reminded her.
     She changed the topic, and at that time, I did not have the strength to dig deeper.
     Her heart had been broken beyond repair, life had devoured her. Even in grief you have to work at it.
     Before hanging up, I told her I was happy she had called. I could hear her smile, "Me too, she whispered."
     I think about that conversation from time to time, and hope that she wakes up searching for the good.
     Behind closed doors, we all have a two o'clock in the morning, come to Jesus time. Life is hard.
     It takes courage to be happy.
     Love is easy, we are stitched together by its thread, in all the torn places.
     But....Happiness takes work, sunshine, daffodils, and my friend, Pharrell!
     Play his song, over and over and over
     HAPPY!