Breakfast With My Peers

I've been writing this blog long enough now that I figure most of you, who have been with me for a while, have a handle on the basics of my life. There exists, however, the possibility that some of you don't know even the basic things, and I think I even have one or two new readers (and lurkers) that are still getting to know me. So, let's refresh:

1. I am a stay-at-home mom of 13-year-old Bonnie Lass and 9-year-old Little Man Warrior. The Lass in finishing up the seventh grade; Little Man is nearly done with fourth grade. They attend the local public school located a mile from the house.
2. I have been married to The Engineer (formerly known as Land Warrior) for nearly 18 years. I was previously married to a Marine with whom I still maintain some contact.
3. Born in Indianapolis, I lived there until I was 11 when my family moved to West Palm Beach, FL. I lived there until I was almost 21; then I went back to Indianapolis where I earned my bachelor's degree from Butler University. I am the youngest of five daughters born to parents originally from Indonesia (then a Dutch colony) who fled to The Netherlands before immigrating to the United States in 1961.
   
4. I lived for a stint in Washington State while I was a Marine Corps wife, but returned to Indiana when we divorced.
5. The Engineer and I met in Indiana and moved to the Desert Southwest in 1990.
   
6. I was diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (0r PH) in 2005. I've been in and out of the hospital several times over the last four years, but still I persevere.
7. I am a practicing Roman Catholic and sing in my church choir, which I have done for about 11 years.
8. I regularly volunteer in the copy room and front office at my kids' school two-three times per week.

Okay, now we've re-established those facts, so we can proceed.

At this point in my life, I fully expected to be back to my career, at least working part-time at something that I really liked. While returning to a corporate environment is now impossible, I'm still investigating the possibilities of doing some freelance writing from home, something that wouldn't be too taxing physically.

So, for now, I sing when I can, and I volunteer at school when I can. Yesterday mornings was one of those times when I didn't have to DO: no driving, no cajoling, no cooking, no homework tutoring, no copying, no filing, no NOTHING. Yesterday morning, for a brief time, my fellow school volunteers and I were treated to a Volunteer Appreciation breakfast.

Wow.

It's amazing how a small token of appreciation can be so cherished; in the scheme of things, this was a very large token. The entire teaching and administrative staff cooked or donated food items such as egg bakes, breakfast burritos, fresh fruit salads, bagels and cream cheese, pastries, juices, and coffee in order to recognize and thank us for our contributions to making our school a safe and academically excelling environment.

We were greeted at the door by our principal, and inside the multi-purpose room, the entire teaching staff was standing by the food in order to greet us. We each received a homemade card, signed by our children's teachers, and a certificate. The staff came around to the tables and thanked us personally, and some volunteers received flowers from their children's teachers.

Nothing was ever done like this in the past, and while I don't volunteer in order to receive recognition, it's nice to know that others are thankful for the small things volunteer contribute to an organization.

I'm so proud of our school and how far we have come, especially in the last year. Our kids have worked diligently, our teachers have really stepped up, and our administrative team has lead all with a firm, fair, and empowering hand. This year, our school has received several accolades that in previous years were just a dream.

Finally, FINALLY, my children are attending a school that I believe will propel them to a bright tomorrow.

And I am humbled to be a part, however small, of that success.