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NOVEMBER 13, 2010

Nov. 14, 1997 - I was scheduled to go to a conference, so wasn't at school in the a.m. Cyndi called me around 7:40 a.m. wondering if I knew where Sharyl [Mitchell] was - she wasn't at school and had not called off. I walked straight to my hall tree, removed a set of keys [which I had no idea was there], and headed to Sharyl's apartment. As I got to the steps, I froze and had Mrs. Carpenter go with me [she lived downstairs from Sharyl.] Sharyl had died sometime during the night.

Always remember to think before you speak! Cleaning out Sharyl's classroom for her mother was one of the most difficult things I had to tackle at HHS. I noticed that her voice mail light was blinking; for some reason [again unknown] I tried a password and there was a message from another one of her friends from the night of the 13th: "Hey, have you left school yet or are you at home dead?" TOTALLY stopped me in my tracks. Yes, unfortunately, she was.

Now, everyone knows 13 is my favorite #. To honor the 13th anniversary of Sharyl's arrival in heaven, I'm asking for some help from some of you. Sharyl was an AVID doll collector; she got me into some doll collecting, although my collecting was more specialized: historical theatre-oriented; dolls from shows I did; special things for me. ONE of the things I have always resented was that Sharyl really wanted the kids to have some of her things. [She used to tell Allison, Megan, and Leanne to put their names on what they wanted.] Because of her untimely death, that didn't happen. I do NOT want to repeat that someday [and I don't want Sharon and Jackie to have to "deal" with it either!] I want to have the joy of giving mine away!!!!!

This is where YOU come in! My nieces and great-nieces have taken all they want [and the accumulated dust] so now it is YOUR turn! I have some Pierrots, clowns, different time periods, some angels, stuffed animals, collector items -- and I WANT TO SHARE THEM! WITH YOU and your kids! There are a couple I specifically want people to have [Melinda - Cinderella, Fairy Godmother, Solo-in-the-Spotlight Barbie; Leanne - Teacher Barbie; Taylor and Andi - mice] and some that some of you specifically want. Bring a box, bag, sack and get over here! First come, first serve -- and BE GREEDY! I cannot tell you the joy I had when little Mary had an armful and kept saying, "I'm taking these home!" GIVE ME THAT JOY, please! And you with boys: yes, you, too -- at 16, Bryan never saw a doll who's eyes opened and closed [I reminded him that he had "dolls" - G.I.Joe - and he told me that THOSE ARE "FIGURES" - eyes are painted on!] So you with boys need a couple, too, so they KNOW.

I AM VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS. Get over here and wipe me out. I'm trying so hard to "de-clutter" and this would make me very happy! I am NOT being "maudlin" or dying -- I just know this will make me very happy -- and it IS all about me! Pass on to people I don't have e-mail for who should have (Steve's girls; Kriste -- Amy and her girls; anyone I'm missing.) I'm here most of the time, so just call, come over, scoop, and run! [942-0057] LET'S HAVE SOME FUN WITH THIS, PLEASE! (Megan - can you yank for Allison and Alex, too?)

On this, the 13th anniversary, remember, there ARE angels watching over us! The keys on the hall tree; Mrs. Carpenter going with me; password for the phone. Make sure everyone knows you love them!

LOVE YOU ALL!

"WHO'S MISS MUMAUGH?"

When I retired, I knew that one of the hardest things for me would be not knowing any of the students in a few years. It dawned on me that the Class of 2012 would be the last group of students I would have taught. One charming young lady in that class has made a special effort to "keep me connected" -- Alley Banks keeps me up on the "scoops"; she delivers things back and forth to me; she makes sure I still feel a part of things at HHS. [My "Lungs for Lissy" T-shirt, my Yohan silly bandz, my ticket for the Murder Mystery were all handed to her to deliver and get the $$$ for without her even knowing the arrangements had been made!] It probably helps that she is a "second generation" baby for me [I had her mom a couple of years back] and she is a theatre person, too!

Today, she told me that the saddest thing happened to her. Some kids were talking at rehearsal that I was planning on attending the Murder Mystery. One of the freshmen students asked,

"WHO'S MISS MUMAUGH?"

Alley said she almost cried. But, in true "I-got-your-back spirit," Alley retorted,

"YOU'RE NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO KNOW!"

Gotta' love that girl!

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet.

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet.
~Anonymous

For a veteran teacher of SPEECH and THEATRE, I'm really basically shy! I have trouble "reaching out" in new settings and with new people. Part of the reason is the fear of rejection; part of the reason is fear of the unknown; part of the reason is fear of failure; part of the reason is lack of control! I TOTALLY want to try new things, make plans, get excited, and then panic! Generally, if I just "follow through," I have very good experiences and think how stupid I had been to be fearful.

Personally, I believe these fears are what made me the compassionate teacher I tried to be. Not only did I understand the fears, I lived them. I was fortunate to have had college professors who encouraged me to become the high school teacher I didn't have.

Now, in retirement, I'm trying to face, and control, new fears! Again, I am fortunate to have met some very encouraging new friends and continue with help from some old friends! I'm working on moving those feet! And the Lord is guiding them -- helping to get those butterflies to fly in formation! THANK YOU, Sharon, Cyndi, Lin, Lisa, Jeanne.........and all of those who have helped make me the person I am!

missing my friends

I think I understand kids who go to school and do nothing;

I sure do miss the social aspect of school.

I miss seeing my friends!

Don't miss the grading,

the "policing,"

extra duties,

[maybe I DO miss the extra duties!]

getting up early!

Yes, I think I DO understand kids who go to school and do nothing;

I sure do miss the social aspect of school. I miss seeing my friends!

Don't miss the grading, policing, getting up early!

BACK TO SCHOOL -- NOT

The day I have been regretting is Monday. Summer "vacation" is over; summer school has ended; fall sports have done the mandatory practice time and begun their seasons; friends, colleagues, alumni have all prepped their classrooms and started lesson plans; the shopping is complete; the supplies have been purchased.

And so it's "Back to School" time ~ for those still teaching. Monday begins the 2010-2011 HHS school year. Teachers will meet for breakfast in the Great Hall.

Excitement is in the air as everyone catches up on the much-too-short summer. New teachers try to "fit" in; veteran teachers wander in; all wait for the festivities in the theatre. And then it's a faculty meeting before preparation in rooms.

But this year is different for S.A.Mumaugh; I will not be at breakfast;

I will not be at teachers' festivities; I will not be at the theatre;

I will not be at the faculty meeting; I will not be going to Room 1303.

I WILL still be a BRICKIE because "ONCE A BRICKIE, ALWAYS A BRICKIE!"

And now I AM RETIRED!

ONCE UPON A TIME

"ONCE UPON A TIME"

"Nearly every story begins with those words...'once upon a time'...but did you ever think of what, or who they mean?? well..they mean me...I'm Miss On Time...you may know my brother, March Time, or my sister, May Time...I KNOW you know my father...Father Time...he started the whole time business..."

A former student reminded me of these beginning lines from a children's show.

I think I used to define myself by the job that I did, the people that I knew, or the plays that I directed.

Have recently realized that I AM ME!

“I am Me. In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. Everything that comes out of me is authentically mine, because I alone chose it -- I own everything about me: my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, whether they be to others or myself. I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears. I own my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes. Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. By so doing, I can love me and be friendly with all my parts. I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know -- but as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and ways to find out more about me. However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me. If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought, and felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded. I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me. I own me, and therefore, I can engineer me. I am me, and I am Okay.”~~Virginia Satir (American Phychologist and Educator, 1916-1988)

I AM AT PEACE!