Monthly Archives: May 2010

My First Graduates

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My First Graduates

May10-4August 1998 was an important month for me.  This was when I took my first steps into a first grade classroom for my first day of teaching.  When I was a child, all I wanted to be was a teacher.  And now the moment was here.  Twenty-four eager first graders sat wide eyed and looked at me, wondering what type of great things we would learn.

A seasoned teacher advised me “not to smile until Christmas”.  She must not have known me very well, because I always smile.  And, within 30 seconds on that first day of school, I flashed my smile, welcomed everyone to my classroom and said I was going to take them on amazing journey!  I’ll never forget the moment where I looked up and everyone was quietly working.  My room was quiet.  24 six-year-olds were silent.  Then I realized, I hate complete silence.  So, I turned on some music with the volume very low.

My first year of teaching was fantastic.  My students were brilliant both academically and with their extra activities.  They made me laugh.  They cared about each other.  We were a community.  I missed them over Christmas break.  At the end of the year, I was so proud of their success that I moved up with them and taught them again for second grade.
This was 12 years ago. Now, my first group of first graders is graduating from high school.  My babies are grown!  I searched for some of them on Facebook to see what their future holds.  Many of them still looked similar (with the exception of body parts and facial hairs not normally found of six-year-old kids).   The interesting thing was the path of many of them, were characteristics I noticed back then.   Juanita Araque was an amazing dancer.  We even watched her as Clara in the Nutcracker.  She is now working with a professional ballet company and following her passion.  Braea Tilford was a social butterfly.  She’s graduating from Central High and was a cheerleader and Homecoming Queen.  Joey Coombs was very smart at solving problems.  He’ll be attending UK to major in business marketing.  Bethany Welch was one of the smartest students I had ever met.  She had just moved with her family from South Africa and I was just proud to be her teacher.  She’ll be attending UL and studying cultural anthropology.

And the list goes on and on.   I am just as proud of them now and I was twelve years ago.  Back then, boys and girls didn’t like each other more than just friends.  Now, they all have their prom pictures with “the love of their life”.  (If only they knew it’ll be more like “love of the next couple of weeks”!)  Although I’m still the only person that looks the same as in 1998, I feel as if they have the same spirit, love and drive that helped us all survive those two years together.  I’m excited to follow them over the next decade and although it was a long time ago, I hope I made some type of difference in their lives.

M.Y.  May 2010

Just One of Them Days

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Just One of Them Days

May10-3I had only been back in town for a couple of hours.  I learned my fitness routine and was sore all over, but I wanted to get in a workout.  The plan: get gas, go to the gym, go home, rest.  I just gotten Lexie (my car) back from the shop the week before.  (who would have known a Lexus bumper would cost $4000!)  I started the engine and was ready to go – until I noticed a headlight warning light on.  I’d never seen it before so I opened the manual to read what it signified.  It was the light that controlled the automatic headlights.  I called the repair guys and they said to bring it in and it should only take 10 minutes to fix.

So, on my way I went to the Kroger gas station.  Every pump was full.  I pulled up behind a car to wait.  As I sat there a couple of minutes, I noticed the car was stalled.  The guy wasn’t pumping gas, he was trying to get his car to start.  Crap!  So, I pulled away and found another spot where a lady was finishing pumping her gas.  As she pulled off, another customer went up to her and told her she thought gas was leaking from her gas.  The lady paid her no mind and drove off.  Finally my turn.  Or so I thought.  As I pulled up to the spot, the gas attendant came up to my passenger window.  I tried to roll it down but it wouldn’t budge (this is the same side that Lexie was hit).  He walked around to my side and said I’d have to wait while he cleaned up the gas leak.

So, my headlight warning light is on, my window doesn’t roll down and now you want me to wait five more minutes to pump my gas?!  By now I’m getting a little bit frustrated. All the other pumps are full so there’s no use in trying to pull up to another one.  So I just wait.  As soon as he’s done, I pull up, scan my Kroger card, swipe my credit card and pump gas.  After I finish, I open my car door to head to the gym.  I realize I don’t have my credit card.  I had on biker shorts and a t-shirt so I had no pockets.  I was able to pump gas so I had to have used it.  I walked around my car several times. I squatted and looked under my car a few more times.  I checked my wallet.  I looked high.  I looked low.  My credit card was nowhere to be found.

At this point I’m pissed and baffled and I realized the only place I needed to be was in my bed.  So I drove home.  I called and reported my credit card as lost (but didn’t know if it had been stolen).  I did not leave my house for the rest of the night.  It was just one of those days.

The storm before the rainbow:  I went back to the repair shop and they just needed to reset some things to fix both the warning light and the window.  It took all of 15 minutes. I was at the same Kroger a couple of days later and checked to see if my credit card had been turned in. Underneath t-shirts, umbrellas and a watch, was my credit in the lost-and-found.  The moral of the story – when everything seems to be going wrong in your life, just be patient and realize that it will get better!

M.Y. May 2010

Un Be-weave-able

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Un Be-weave-able

May10-2Naturally my hair is somewhat long – about 4-5 inches past my shoulders. But every once in awhile, on special occasions my hair calls for special attention and additional features.  Over time this has come in the form of wigs (those are fun but don’t usually look natural), half wigs (which generally blend in well with my hair) and weaves.

I know the new thing is the lace front wig, but that’s not something I would ever be able to wear.  My skin is very sensitive to any and everything.  I am allergic to latex and even the some bandages will leave marks on my skin.  So, the glue people use on the lace front wigs would leave a permanent scar across my forehead (and you may say it won’t but I’m definitely not trying to find out).

For my competition in March I decided to increase my stage presence and add some length to my hair. Since I would be tumbling, I went with a weave (I’m not trying to have a wig fly into the crowd as I tumble!)   My wonderful stylist Chenica Racine, sewed three tracks in to my hair.  I had long(er) flowing locks in no time at all. And, at first I really enjoy the tracks.  I could do a lot with my hair and it had the body and flow that I usually don’t have.

And then it started to annoy me.  See, I’m used to placing a brush on my head and being able to move straight from the top of my head down to the bottom.  With the tracks, my brush only got half way down and then I felt a bump, bump, bump.  I didn’t want my boyfriend to touch my hair because I knew he’d think I had a deformed head.

The second bothersome thing was perspiration.  I had a great workout on the gym and produced a nice sweat.  Unfortunately my head sweat as well.  And in those creases where the braids were, the sweat just ran inside those plaits and was holding on for dear life.  As much as I wanted to shove a comb up in that area and scratch, I couldn’t.

After about three weeks of the tracks, I was ready for them to be taken out.  I liked the look, but missed the natural feel of my own fingers running all the way through my own hair.  Will I do it again?  Yes (actually in four weeks for my next competition) But will I have the same issue – most likely so.

M.Y. May 2010

One Wish

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One Wish

May10-1She’s the only one I ever knew.  The one person that believed in me when everyone else had doubts.  She was the person that felt I could do no wrong, and even when I did she still loved me unconditionally.  She let me know I was special, intelligent, gifted and beautiful.  And she loved to brag on my accomplishments.  She was proud to see me flourish and find my way.  And then May 23, 2001 came.  That’s the day my mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer.  In addition to fighting the disease, my mother’s main worry was what would happen to me – her only child.

I didn’t know until years later, but my mother initially kept a journal of her battles with ovarian cancer.  She also talked about overcoming different obstacles.  And then one day, she stopped writing.  The same day she stopped writing in her journal, is the day I moved out of her house and into my own apartment.   I never knew that my move affected her.

For the five years she battled cancer our relationship blossomed.  I made sure I took one day each week to spend the night at her house.  As her health declined I stayed more nights.  As I saw her become more weak, yet still look elegant and a symbol of strength, I knew there were many questions I always wanted to know.  So, I had someone interview her and discuss things like how she met my father, why she chose our church and what advice she has to offer me.  I cherish that video.

My mother passed away on May 23, 2006.  I was at peace with her death because she and I had a special bond that still lives within me.  Since my mother’s death I have made it my mission to give back to the Louisville community in the same way my parents did.  If you knew my mother, she was definitely one of God’s angels sent to make a difference on everyone that came in her path.  And while I will never be Dr. Lillian Yeager, I will continue to strive and make my own personal mark.

This Mother’s Day I ask everyone to do one thing.  Make amends with the ones you love.  We can’t pick our relatives but we can definitely support them and let them know we care. So often we think so much about ourselves and hold grudges against people that have caused us harm.  Realize, though, that nobody is perfect and tomorrow isn’t promised.  Ask anyone that has lost a parent, sibling or child that they never made amends with.   It’s a feeling that can haunt you and one that you can’t reverse.  So this Mother’s Day, reach out to someone and tell them you love them.  Maybe you’ll call your brother that you haven’t talked to all year.  Why not send your childhood friend a text message just to say hello.  And even though you and your mother may fight like cats and dogs (or maybe your father was never there for you) – reach out and show you care.

M.Y.  May 2010