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Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Late one afternoon as I sat watching one of my Soaps, I had a surprise phone call from Mayor Longo, asking if I would cut the ribbon to reopen the newly renovated Waveland School building that had taken such a terrible beating from Hurricane Katrina. I immediately said yes and I thanked him for making me so happy.
1 could not have been given a more greater honor, my heart beat with joy, my eyes leaked with happiness and my mind went afloat. I was going back to my second home of 22 years for a few hours to reminisce, after sixty two years. I am very thankful and grateful to all persons who helped make this honor possible.
Many, many fond years and cherished moments that still live in my heart and head come from the last room on the left hand side of this building. As I entered the front door the first time as a teacher in September of 1945, (prior to that I had been a student) there stood many parents holding their little angels and looking me over. I thought to myself, “what am I doing here”, then suddenly a bell rang and we were all ushered into the auditorium, at that time Miss Perkins introduced herself and welcomed the students, parents, visitors and friends, we then recited the “Pledge” and sang the National Anthem”.
Miss Perkins then made a short speech and introduced the other teachers. Miss Margaret Zimmerman, Miss Cecile Turcotte( know as “Miss Dick”) and myself, Miss Mary Margaret Turcotte (know as “Miss Mary Margaret”). As I stood before the first three or four rows of seats, there sat terrified, the teary eyed angels looking up at me. I know they saw the fear in my eyes as well as the thumping of my racing heart.
Many terrified, teaiy eyed angels came and went over the next twenty two years, leaving their love, friendship and deep feeling for those they left behind, as did my love, motherly feelings and blessings go along with them. Going back to the old site after sixty two years was a dream as I entered the building, there stood many of my former terrified, teaiy eyed angels of long, long ago with gleaming eyes and smiling faces, all with the same feeling as I.
As we greeted one another, there were many questions, answers and stories shared. This was not only of our two years shared together as teacher and students but of their entire stay of eight years at our wonderful little school. The reminiscing was interrupted for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Then, they “the little angels” were gone again, their separate ways with smiling faces and happy memories of this day and our yesteryears, along with my love, motherly feelings and blessings.
Again, my sincere and heartfelt thanks to Mayor Longo and all those who made my day of honor a happy and cherished one.
“There is no way in making a person worthy of love except by loving him.”
By: Thomas Merton
With much Love,
Miss Mary Margaret