SOLSC Day14 - On My Wall

Slice of Life Story Challenge Day 14 -- On My Wall


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On Day 6 of this challenge, I wrote about a few special items that I keep on my desk at my morning school. These are things that remind me of some special people who have been or are in my life. After I wrote about that, I realized that I have other special items that I keep nearby at school, items that have precious memories associated with them, which makes them special also! These things are hanging on the wall right by my desk.  

I have the usual teacher-y things hanging right there...calendars, schedules, staff room numbers & voicemail numbers, etc....but those aren't the special things I'm talking about. The things I'm talking about most likely won't be seen hanging by any other teacher's desk, because they are things that are special to ME. Someone may have one or two of these particular items hanging by their desk, but not all of them.

Here is what is on my wall:

The large "Teachers Parking Only" sign was given to me about 15 or so years ago by my oldest son and his wife. This sign has hung by my desk in at least four different schools as I've moved around the district. It's usually the first thing I hang up when I'm setting up my classroom or small group room at the beginning of each school year. It reminds me of my son and daughter-in-law, and it reminds me of the various buildings I've taught in.

On the top left is a paper replica of an interstate sign that you might see on the freeway in this area. It was made by my middle son one evening as he sat with friends and doodled with markers. (That son is a self-proclaimed "highway geek", so doodling road signs and maps is common for him.) This little sign reminds me of my middle son and his interests and eccentricities... some of which he inherited from me, to be honest. I can spend hours (literally) absorbed in reading maps.

On the middle left is some of my "Super" paraphernalia, given to me by a friend who is a teacher. We worked together in one of the elementary buildings in this district for about six years, and have become forever friends. The first year that we worked together, she called me "Super Judy" (that is another story for another day) and often gifted me with Superman insignia-related items.  

Right next to the Superman insignia is a small brown paw print. This is something that I had at a previous school, whose mascot was a brown bear. I spent eight years teaching at that school, and all three of my sons had attended that elementary school, so that school was important to me. It will always have a special place in my heart.

At the bottom left are two bookmarks. The left one was given to me by a secretary at one of my schools, after I had lamented that I never received any mail or anything in my mailbox. The sticky-note attached to the bookmark says "Now your mailbox is not empty!" It was so sweet of her to do that; her kindness meant a lot to me. The other bookmark has the starfish story printed on it. That story is one of my favorites. Here's a close-up of the bookmark in case you're not familiar with the story and want to read it:

I've had various other special things on my desk and my wall over the years; these just happen to be the current ones. What do all these items say about me? I don't know. I just enjoy them!

:-)

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JudyK  March 14, 2018
(Happy Pi Day!)