ALABAMA OSR: Fun!!

From the opening welcome address, by the Governor of Alabama to the keynote by Ella, the morning started off with fireworks. I wish that you could have seen Ella 'pop' up and ask the Gov if he had any 'child' left in him -- and promptly began playing a hand jive game of "Miss Mary Mack." What a hoot. The honorable one was really thrown for a loop, but played right along with Miss Ella. The audience just roared their approval.

Then I hurried back to the exhibit hall to the ZB (Zaner-Bloser) booth and got big hugs from my sponsoring rep, Jane Sharp and her very knowledgable associate Darlene. Do you just love that they dressed in the prerequisite black and white patterns?? We had so very much fun together -- including each of us 'teaching' the others, from our own unique platform and experience. Then it was off to my afternoon workshop. We had the airplane hanger exhibit hall -- due to such a large turnout in the registration ahead of time. This is a good challenge to face. They provided a good mic and I worked very hard to 'slow down' and ennunciate. There was so much enthusiasm, it was a fleeting 90 minutes that flashed by in the blink of an eye.

Ella Jenkins: Alabama

My happy rainbow travels continue.... with one amazing chapter following another. Today I've traveled cross country to Montgomery, Alabama to present tomorrow at their state's Office of School Readiness Pre-Kindergarten Conference. I navigated successfully thru two airports and a taxi ride to arrive safely @ the Renaissance Convention Center. Just as I'm about ready to find my way to my room, who should I spot but tomorrow's KEYnote speaker, Ella Jenkins. Yes, THE Ella Jenkins! Ella is nearly eighty-seven years old. Our paths have crossed several times in the past, but this was the first time I've had a camera along to document the amazing moment in time.

Ella is the grand dame of music for children. She is still traveling the globe, sharing her unique call and response songs with children of all cultures. She has come to this event by way of a tour thru Europe. The first time we met was in California, when I'd arrived at my very first NAEYC convention. At that point she was hovering near eighty and she had just been back and forth across India and was thinking of new songs resulting from that trek.

One of the very first songs I remember learning on the guitar was Ella's "You Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song." I was so excited when I had it mastered. A classic. I just need to keep traveling the country for another 35 years and then perhaps I'll be able to have some up and coming whipper-snapper blogging (what will the technology be like in 35 years??) about running into me in the lobby, in my 87th year on the planet. WOW. Things that make you go "wow".