Well-Lettered
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Sometimes life just hands you a pleasant and unexpected surprise every now and then, doesn’t it? The word for it is serendipity, and when it happens, well, life is good.
It Was the Best of Days…
It’s second grade (flash of lightning; clap of thunder; sound of terrified children screaming). We’re sitting in our classroom, which is in one of those plain wooden so-called “temporary” buildings you often see out next to the school football field.
You know the buildings I’m talkin’ about, right? The ones that end up redefining the word temporary from “not permanent” to “permanent”. (Another reason to hate them: for some reason they’re usually painted a revolting shade of “baby-puke tan”, or something similarly awful. But I digress.)
It was a beautiful fall day, and still early in the school year (which started in September). We were just getting into the rhythm of school again (after summer’s nirvana-like break). Christmas was still a bit too far away to be dreaming about just yet (although I did have my eye on that really neat slot-car racing set).
In the classroom, we’re all pretty much goofing around reading, drawing pictures, or whatever it is second-graders do when they’re not actively being directed by the teacher. Knowing me, I was probably on one of many exciting (but alas, imaginary) adventures exploring outer space. (Probably racing a Moon crawler across the floor of Tycho crater on a dramatic rescue. Or something.)
Along about the time I had just found traces of the missing spacemen (who were no doubt running out of air about now), my friend poked me in the arm and said in a hushed but excited voice, “Do you see what I see?”
Something Unexpected
Unseen while I had been distracted with my imaginary adventure, our teacher had removed all the block letter cards from above the blackboard (you know, those cards that show Aa Bb Cc, etc). I happened to look up just in time to see her begin replacing them with cards illustrating - get this - script letters!
Our eyes grew wide and our hearts raced as we realized the sensational stupendousness of what was about to happen: we were going to learn handwriting! I’m tellin’ ya, my friend and I were so excited we could hardly sit still.
Now, you may wonder how such a mundane thing as writing (as opposed to printing) could possibly excite two 8-year old boys like that. But I’m tellin’ ya; it wasn’t just us. Within minutes, all gum chewing, secret conversations, and note-passing pretty much dribbled to a stop as the attention of the entire class was riveted on what was happening up at the front.
Ever seen a cat watch a ping pong game? You know; the way their head follows the ball like they’re physically connected? It was like that. We held our collective breath as, slowly and deliberately, each card was pinned, one by one, along the top of the blackboard.
Finally, it was finished. She turned and went back to her desk. She sat down. (As a lesson in building excitement, I’m tellin’ ya, this was a hum-dinger!) About now we’re all literally on the edges of our little chairs, just waitin’ for it.
Then she smiled at our eager faces and said, very calmly, “OK; it’s time.”
I kid you not - we actually cheered!
A Rite of Passage
Although I didn’t realize it at the time (hey, what did we know? We were, you know, eight!), I’ve come to realize that day marked the beginning of one of many rites of passage.
You know what I mean, don’t you? It’s when something happens that sorta puts a whole new spin on life (including the universe and everything). It makes what happens from then on, well, different somehow from all that’s gone on before, you know? Sorta like the day I got my driver’s license, or the day I got my first kiss. (Or something really momentous: the blessed day I discovered Blue Bell Banana Pudding Ice Cream.)
The very idea of finally learning to communicate, not with the simple block letters of our *ahem* long-lost childhood but with cursive script the way grown-ups did - well, it was a memorable moment.
But here’s the thing. It’s wasn’t as if we were, you know, counting the days until we could finally learn to write cursive script. Unlike learning to drive (a day all teenagers know is coming sooner or later, Heaven help us), we had no agenda or timetable listing all the stuff we were supposed to learn that year - and when.
Hey, when you’re a second-grader, you pretty much go with the flow, if you know what I mean. When they said, “Open a book” - we opened our books. When they said, “Stand over there”, well, we stood over there. If they said, “Wear this” - our usual response was, “Aww, man!” - but we wore it anyway. That’s just the way life was, you know?
So when we realized that school had reached a whole new level, well, it was a truly Great Moment, I’ll tell ya.
And Now, Back to You
I love it when those serendipitous moments come, don’t you? You know; when something wonderful happens, and life is suddenly just… better. It’s like when you were a kid, and after a hard day of playing outside, you ask your Mom for a glass of water - and she gives you Kool-aid for the first time. You never wanna go back!
When was the last time you were pleasantly surprised with something that pretty much changed the way you look at life? Or, maybe not your whole life, but maybe it changed only a single relationship? Care to share it in the comment box? Perhaps you’d care to tell your own story? Hey, go for it, my friends!
Don’t worry; I’ll leave the light on.
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15 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
Robert, Wonderful story, and I can’t wait to see the comments. I have kind of an opposite story to yours. When I was in second or third grade, I was absent the day we learned how to “carry over” when you subtract. Foolishly, I was too embarrassed to ask for help, and went through the entire year feeling stupid and awful. Somewhere along the line I learned the skill, but to this day I remember the incident. Strange, huh? Maybe that’s why I tend to ask so many questions now.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..DUH v. DOH - All You Need to Know
My best serendipity moment was when I fallen in love at the first time.
Bihos last blog post..85 Adsense Websites
Robert, great story! One of these serendipitous moments for was the moment when I was allowed to go the adults’ public library. I had almost read all the books in the childrens’ library and had the impression that there was nothing new waiting for me there. When I went to the adults’ public library it was like going to a new world - all these books waiting for me there! I bet I lend more books than I really understood…
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..Guest Post on Joyful Jubilant Learning
It’s a wonderful story and one that I’m sure will make many teachers’ hearts glad.
Sadly my brain is refusing to think of any such stupendous moments in my own life. If it plays ball later on today I’ll get back to you!
Joanna
Joanna Youngs last blog post..Freedom to Write – It Starts With You: Guest Post by Dawn Goldberg
@Brad - I know that exact feeling too. Alas, it comes back most often when I get introduced to someone, then immediately forget their name! If I don’t own up and ask again, I’m reduced to a sniveling coward, waiting to overhear someone else say it and remind me.
Sad, I know. But too true. *sigh*
@Ulla - Ooh, libraries! Yes, I remember the first time my mom left me in our community library. It was like whole worlds opened up! I started reading mainly three genres: mysteries (the Hardy Boys books), science fiction (the Tom Swift books), and my personal favorite, a genre referred to as Tall Tales (sortof like Myths and Legends). I’ve never been the same since.
@Biho - That’s a big one, all right! I remember my own moment with Mrs. MZM. Wow!
@Joanna - Hey, I understand; your brain is probably still just beyond the “jelly” stage after what you’ve just been through. Let me help you out then.
What about when you realized you wanted to move to where you just moved to? I’d say that was a moment that changed your life, wouldn’t you?
Robert, you know I can track the moment I decided I was going to do it. I blame blogging actually. I challenged everyone on the 29th February to do something with the extra day - which led to me putting my house on the market! As to when I realised I wanted to do it - blimey, it’s been a long time coming. Probably about 10 years ago. (I take a long time to make decisions).
Joanna
Joanna Youngs last blog post..Freedom to Write – It Starts With You: Guest Post by Dawn Goldberg
Yes, that’s the problem with most challenges - they’re really two-way challenges! But then, that’s part of the fun, too - we’re all in it together! Blimey! :-O
For me it was when I was ready to go back to work after staying home with my daughter for 10 years. I had my first interview and botched it, so on the way home I stopped at a bookstore and bought a book on how to interview. That night when I went to the grocery store I meet an acquaintance who had often said let him know if I ever wanted to go back to work. We chatted a bit, then I told him I was starting to look for a job. He had me write up a resume and got me an informal interview with his new boss. When I walked in the room the boss said, “I’ve been looking for someone like you for the past 20 years.” Yep, talk about life-changing events. I didn’t even need that book I bought.
I love it when a plan comes together - especially when you didn’t even know there WAS a plan! General Douglas MacArthur once said, “There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity.” Seems like he had your number, Jean!
Robert, oh my gosh you took me back to the excitement of learning to write cursive! That was a great time! A recent moment for me was the day I realized my passion could be my business. I had been spending weeks researching businesses, visiting the SBA, writing business plans and taking Pet CPR classes (yep I was this close to being a professional pet sitter) when I made my almost daily trip to the library and picked up the next truckload of books. I ventured down the aisle and found the writing section and grabbed a few books. Well in one of those books was how to start a writing business (light bulb moment, wow, I could actually do what I love for a business!). Wow, still tingles three years later!
Karen Swims last blog post..Perception and Art
Sounds like you made the right choice, Karen; it’s pretty obvious you love what you do.
[...] Hruzek over at Middle Zone Musings recently wrote a post on serendipity, which is when life hands you a delightful surprise, especially when you’re looking for [...]