It seems the older I get, the more 'I hear voices' from my past.  For some people 'hearing voices' might seem a bit weird and I am sure they could be.  Thus far mine have come over the cell or house phone. 

Early in the morning, before the school bus had run, one day last week, I received a call from a special, special person who left a message with all her phone numbers. Don't you love those people who are courteous enough to leave a message? I am always a little anxious about calling back a number, an unknown umber and especially an unknown number with an out of the area code number. Who knows who it might be, a bill collector, a telemarketer, the Reader's Digest Sweepstakes person.  So I don't usually return calls from my caller ID info. I digress,which is something I love doing. My son, who was a little boy when we first came to know Vera, had heard the messase come on the answering machine. He told me there was a message on the machine that he was sure I would want to hear.  I hurried to the phone listened to the message and jotted the numbers down and called her back. When she answered  the phone, she wanted immediately to know about Norris, my husband. It seems she had a dream about him with an unhappy ending. I was happy to tell her that he was doing just fine. 'The fact is' I said,  'I think he had some of those rabbit batteries installed when they did open heart on him the year after he retired, because he never seems to stop.' Once she knew he was alive and well we began to catch up partially on the last 20+ years. I am sure it will take more time on FB, Twit, e mails and phone calls and maybe a visit so I can sit on her wrap around porch. 

This person came into my life when I was in my early 40's. I was the special education director's administrative aide at our local school system. This young lady just out of college, had come to be one of our teachers to teach elementary students who had learning disabilities. Being the mother-type since the age of 12, I immediately took her under my wing. Having had 3 younger sisters that I mothered it was a natural thing to do. And beside she was so tiny and petite and I am so tall and lanky I felt as if I had one of my little sisters plunked in my lap. I loved and appreciated her upbeat, enthusiastic ways. Her ability to be positive when everyone else had their thumbs turned down, way down, about some kid. She was bright and funny and very creative. I did have a little problem with her the first time I took her to a store on Main Street in our little community. She bounced out of the car and we were almost in the store when I looked down and realized she was shoeless. I stopped there on the sidewalk and talked with her about the impression a new teacher should make and that putting her shoes on might be a very important help on the first impression thing. It was difficult to keep my most serious 'mother' face on. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do and keep a straight face. After all these years when I think of that moment, I giggle out loud. She was totally unconcerned about what people might think of her. To her it was a natural thing to go barefoot anywhere, anytime. She complied with my suggestion and returned to the car, dug her shoes out from under the seat and slipped them on.  

I am looking forward to getting reacquainted with this lovely child-woman. I do hope that she has been able to go barefoot most of her life. I hope that her closet has not been taken over by multiple pairs of shoes like so many women have allowed to happen in their lives. From what she has told me she no longer works with children in a teacher capacity, but test students individually. I know she does a great job. I can hear her patient, endearing voice, encouraging and putting at ease even the most anxious student.

Yes, I am looking forward to getting to know, again this delightful voice from my past.