Hello fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by,
Many of you are aware of how often a light bulb turns on over your head. You have an idea, a thought or come to understand something so magnificent, you are in complete awe of your minds thinking capabilities... and if you have ever stopped by my blog, you are certain to have read a few of my own epiphanies. Well, today is no different, except that it didn't happen today, but rather, it has been happening for the last few months.
Let's say your are sitting somewhere listening to a conversation between two people. Not eavesdropping, just waiting for the right time to join in on the convo. Lets say those two people are not talking about school work, homework, work work, or anything like that, but rather, something that is common between the two of them. I'll go out on a limb and throw the subject of Zombies out there. OK, this post is about a particular professor I've been privileged to have and a classmate who has brought a smile or two with their commentary (and he's so respectful to his 'lady friend', never being derogatory in any way!).
This particular professor is infatuated, dare I say obsessed with Zombies and the A&E Show, The Walking Dead. Now, in the beginning I thought this was just a one time happening -- a short intercession if you will between class starting and roll being taken. However, the next week, the same thing... followed by the week after that and the week after that. So much so, the smiles on both conversationalists faces seemed to fascinate me. Being a fan of Vampires as opposed to Zombies, I had to find out what all the hubbub was about. Having been caught up on all my homework for one evening (gasp, how the hell did that happen?!?), I sat down in front of my families big screen, turned on the blue ray player, pressed the netflix button and within minutes, I was caught up in a whirlwind of death, tragedy, confusion and, *sigh* I must say it... A disgusting, gut wrenching, close my eyes on some parts tale that seemed to go on forever. Needless to say, I may have been converted that night -- I'll never tell!
Venturing back to class the following day, I inform said professor that I watched the first season with intent and curiosity. I fear I would not lose any sleep should I ever miss another episode, but it would be fascinating to follow up with the second season which just ended, and much to my dismay, neither would talk about it in class, except that it just keeps getting better. I sometimes caught myself wondering, "is this what two women sound like when they are discussing a new pair of shoes or a new handbag?" To see the look on their faces when they described the show and how it made them feel made me truly realize life -- no matter what your poison, everyone has a taste for something - theirs happens to be zombies while mine certainly still remains chocolate!
But it was not just seeing the two of them conversed about a show they shared in common, but the issue was with me as well. I did not have the ability to 'mesh' with their conversations as much as I would have liked to, but alas, a great teacher does not always have something in common to be a good listener or share-er of advice, wisdom, praise or self-worth.
A teacher sometimes listens and gives feedback without drawing more to the story. Sometimes she remains the quiet woman who smiles at you when you've gotten so tongue-tied all you can do is laugh. Sometimes she is the teacher who encourages you to look outside the box -- to weigh all your options, to question EVERYTHING before deciding on anything. Sometimes, just sometimes, she is the teacher who makes all the difference in the world. Out of respect for my teachers and their privacy, I will leave them nameless... but, if you are a witness to my laughing outbursts in class or my ability to seem to get one unwanted contraction in that seemingly perfect essay, then you know who you are -- and you should know that you have both made a huge impact on my life!
I salute you. Thank you for being who you are and for teaching me who I can be!
Until tomorrow,
~L
