Last week, I was in Demorest, Georgia from Wednesday to Friday. Friday was the first day of school—Marcia is a third grade teacher—so the days before that we spent getting ready.
Wednesday afternoon was the open house, when the families would come by the school to drop off the students' school supplies, see their classroom, and meet the teacher. From 4-6pm, I watched as Marcia greeted the families and students. It was like a hamster wheel of people cycling in and out, but Marcia's poise and gracious attitude never flagged. She said the same things to eighteen different parents while greeting former students (if I did my math right, there's close to 300 that could've come by) and making the new students feel comfortable and confident.
That night, we met Eric and Sydney for dinner at Fender's, which has the distinctive title of Cutest Diner in the World.
Seriously! Actually, kidding, but seriously look how cute it is.
And when I was taking this picture, the neons weren't on. But Eric ran inside, and before I knew it the neons were flicking on, just for me. And it felt like that scene in Cars, when Lightening McQueen fixed all the neon in Radiator Springs and the happy song starts playing and everyone bounces along the newly paved road. (For those of you who didn't know me when I was fourteen, Cars was my fav movie for the longest time.)
Who would've thought that one of the most magical moments of this summer would've happened outside a tiny diner in Cornelia, Georgia? That's what happens, I suppose, when you structure a summer around the idea that the unknown places and people have just as much value as everything else. Living under that idea this summer has introduced me to amazing people and ideas and situations I wouldn't have known about or cared about otherwise. It's taught me about grace. Grace is for all people. It's the great equalizer. I've stepped into the worlds of such different people and seen the same thoughts in their heads and same love in their hearts for people in their lives. It reminds me that the outsides look different, but even when that's all we see—in people around us in the grocery store, or making acquaintances that won't turn in to friendships—we can remember to believe that the people inside the outsides are full of live and love and value.
Here's the front porch, one of Marcia's favorite things about their home.
Over the eleven years she's taught—six of which were at her current school—Marcia has gathered about 1600 books for her students to read. She uses an online service that allows her students to check the books out from her classroom. As I continued spending time with her, and as I saw her interact with the students on the first day of school, I was continually impressed with how intentionally Marcia approached teaching. She continually is looking for ways to improve her teaching style and treat each student with exactly the care that they individually need.
Then, finally, the first day of school arrived! The students started coming as early as 7:15, and the day began!
What a fun day! The kids were cute and smart and crazy and so sweet. And Marcia was all of those things, if you switch "crazy" out for "put-together" and "multitasking" and "focused" and "engaging."
Here's the four 3rd grade teachers. I got to spend bunches of time with them, and it was hilarious and so fun. They each had different school stories and teaching strengths and past experience—it was fun to see how all these formed this competent, fun group of women.
Welcome back to school, Habersham County! I gotta tell ya—you're in good hands.
