Veterans + Heroes + Teachers = Gratitude {Humility}

NAEYC. Dallas. Mimi-FEST: Songs, Stories + Sharing

What do my nearly 80 year old mentor Mimi and Veterans Day have in common? Let me attempt to recount an amazing story that unfolded in Dallas at NAEYC during her annual concluding Share Fest. 

Every year Mim invites several of us songsters to share with the gathered teachers in attendance for some show-n-tell. Typically I have led everyone is a sign language rendition of my classic "You're Wonderful." This year I was asked to lead "Red, White and Blue" in honor of Veterans Day. I did as requested. The ballroom was filled with voices and sign language. I was enthralled at the response. I sat back down. 

Then master-kinder teacher Janis took the microphone. She told the story of a kindergarten student whose older brother perished while serving in Afghanistan. She went on to tell us that my song, "Red, White and Blue" was sung by the kindergarten students in honor of the big brother. 

I am completely humbled at the thought of a kindergarten teacher supporting a family in the midst of their deepest grief, by using a song that I've written. There are all sorts of heroes that walk in our midst. They shop next to us at the grocery store and sit next to us in the darkness of the local movie theater. 

Some heroes have collections of sharpies and Scentos. 

I just got this message on FB from another teacher-hero.

Hello Debbie!!
Today our school hosted Bring a Veteran to School Day and the response was overwhelming, to say the least! We held a school-wide flag ceremony and veterans were honored with thank you cards, poem readings, and art projects from the children. Our kindergarten class signed and sang your, "Red, White, and Blue!" The veterans in attendance choked back tears and signed along with us as my kiddos sang with all the gusto and earnest a group of five-year-old hearts could possibly muster! On behalf of my students, my colleagues, and the many veterans in attendance, thank you for this beautiful memory. On those rare days when I doubt the impact I can make on the world, I'm certain this memory will quickly remind me just how powerful we all are!
Most Sincerely,
Mr. Arlee Hall

Then there are the larger-than-life HEROES that have indeed served our country. Recently we were flying on Southwest and departing from our nation's capitol when an Honor Flight from Arizona was announced as arriving at a nearby gate. Nearly two dozen veterans arrived to cheers and waving flags. One gentleman was celebrating his 94th birthday, the recipient of SIX Purple Heart Awards, he was cheered and saluted. 

HONOR FLIGHT: AZ to DC 

"We can't all be heroes..... some of us get to stand on the curb + clap as they go by." ~~ Will Rogers 

Both the picture book version and the digital download of my song are available at TpT. 

Exhibit Hall Friends

After our four hour presentation and gathering up all my gear, it was a straight shot over to the exhibit hall which has it's premiere opening night on Wednesday of our week of fun. NAEYC has thousands, literally thousands of vendors. It's dazzling and overwhelming -- all rolled into one. Somehow in all of that amazing color and splash my fanclub seeks me out and finds me back in my little corner of the Zaner-Bloser booth. Such an honor to meet those who've attended our workshop -- as well as those attracted to my hat and polka dots. "Tall Giraffe" is headed out to foreign countries thanks to the launching support of ZB!!

That's Joyce Grimes daughter Krysta, captured in the first picture. They had volunteered to be my 'roadies' -- at the AmCancerSoc Strides Walk -- and they contributed like champtions. This is the first time I've had 'roadies' @ NAEYC and it was a pure gift to have their enthusiasm and muscle power: Helping, hauling, running errands, vending, hauling some more, running to get my CD player which I left in my hotel room...... you name it they came thru with flying colors!! How would I have managed without them??

The last picture features Mimi's "sister-in-love" and her grand-daughter. That's one of the best parts of a national convention: reconnecting with dear ol' friends!

Vocabulary by Color

Enrique led our large group through a 'symphony-of-emotions' and vocabulary exploration. The first task was to break our people into subsets. They were paired with others wearing the same color. It was great to have a generously sized room for this type of exercise. We had people gather in the wide aisles and then determine 3 words and corresponding sound effects to describe their color.

After each group 'performed' and we played something like charades, Enrique conducted the whole group with plenty of crescendos and decrescendos mixed with laughter and amazed expressions from the participants.

The Gals from Galveston

Here we are on the very last day of such a fantastic convention. These teachers are from a site in Galveston that recieved the full furry & havoc of Hurricane Ike. (Ike was the same storm that ultimately came over a thousand miles north and tore trees up in our yard, left us without electricity and the like.) I can only imagine what their city looks like. Their center is one of only 4 in the city that's been able to get their doors open again. I was moved to give them a set of my materials for their rebuilding process. It's great to be able to be generous at this stage of my evolution. We hugged and cried together. Then Dennis Williams, national product manager for ZB, also did the right thing and gave the gals the entire kit of "On the Road to Handwriting" for preschool fine-motor preparedness. That's Dennie with the rest of us gals in the second picture.... all of us in the ZB booth. Highlights was also generous and gave boxes of their magazine to be taken home to the gulf.

Eric is Wonderful

Here's a picture of my new friend, Eric first thing in the morning of the exhibit hall. We are practising our sign language for my book. He learned all of the signs, in an absolute flash. Maybe someday I can make a visit to his mom's school in sunny southern FL? If I do, you can bet I'll put Eric to work on the stage with me! He told me much of his adventures.... working at the Gap for nearly nine years and other awesome tales. Congrats to Eric for being such a valued employee. It was a pleasure to meet you & I hope we get to see one another again. It almost looks like polka-dots suspended above our heads. Neat effect, don't ya think?

Friendships @ the Booth

Here's a few of those who stopped by to greet us at the booth. From l to r: hubby & wife who came to this country from Laos and have a home child care center where they primarily serve preschoolers . Then we have Connie Bernstein Dow, Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld and I (it was Mim who introduced Connie & I to each other last year in Chicago.) Then comes one branch of my fan club from Mexico. Bottom left corner are the two teachers taking my book back to Nome, Alaska. And last but not least, my favorite first grade teacher: Mrs. Snow from Vermont! [She promised that was her real name. I also met a Mr. Cool from New York and Mrs. Pickle & Mrs. Rice from Tennessee...... but Mrs. Snow from Vermont is the best teacher name to date.]

Exhibition Hall Smiles

Here we are back in the booth, getting ready to greet the tens of thousands ready to rush the exhibit hall. Enrique & I are standing together in the Zaner-Bloser booth, which they were very kind to share. You see that the ZB space is directly adjacent to parent company: Highlights for Children. We're all smiles in anticipation.

5th NAEYC Presentation

Welcome to Room D221 inside the Dallas Convention Center. Enrique Feldman, President of FAME (Fostering Art/Mind-Education) and I had an energetic group of participants and we engaged in all kinds of fun and learning. I played photographer during Enrique's portions of the morning and have captured several of our enthusiastic friends in-the-act. Can you find the common denominator for dividing the groups? The color of clothing they were wearing, or course. You're peaking in on the grand conclusion: "Symphony of Seasons." Yes. We did have fun.