Ms. Queso learns a lesson

I have this huge group of seniors (31) that I each 2nd period. That's 9:30-10:40 for all you normal people.  They are kinda my nemesis-- their attendance is spotty, which makes for rifts in continuity, but the class is huge, so when they all show up it's nutso... AND they are really smart, and they tell me when class is boring, which is stressful.

SO: a week ago, I was checking my email box, deleting like crazy to meet Fulton County's 1.5 MB maximum,  just about to (sigh) delete yet another forward (sigh) from my mom.

The forward was about an "inspirational" classroom teacher who invited her class to list the name of every other student in the class, followed by one positive trait about them. (Cheese!)

The email ended with a student's tragic and touching funeral 20 years later, where all the kids from this lady's class pulled their yellowed and faded list out of their wallet, sang Kumbaya, and felt good about themselves. Teacher movie material. Dangerous Minds. Coach Whoever. Akeelah and the English Teacher.

Ew. Delete.

But then I got desperate enough... 

had no rabbits left in my hat...

and tried it.

Bew! I ended up crying compiling the @%$^&ing lists for each kid, crying when I printed them out, and crying while I proofread stuff like:

"he's the most beautiful person who will never know it"

"bold, risk-taking; my secret hero"

So who's the cheeseball who didn't get her progress reports done on time because 31 kids needed praise lists? Call me Ms. Queso.

Thank you mom, thank you forwards (?), thank u for this blog!

I am an Oreo on the buffet table of life

I was asked to meet with Usher's people today (long story) to show them one of our properties – the Castle, a historic $5M midtown arts center victorian mansion – and it was just above freezing when I went in to open the place up before Usher's crew arrived. There was an old homeless guy sleeping in front of the main door on the second level, trying to stay out of the wind. I asked him if he could gather up his stuff and take off for an hour while I showed the place. The dude was in bad shape and had trouble getting his stuff together, his entire life bundled into a small towel.

As he started off I waited and wondered what to expect from Usher's people and what it's like to drop 5M for a funky recording studio and a place to party without blinking an eye. Probably needs another 3M just to get the place back up to code. How would it feel to have that much money?

I caught up with the old guy and slipped him $10 and told him to get something hot to eat. He smiled and said he'd make it last for a long time.

He felt better.

I felt better.

Usher's people didn't like the place.

How it began...

Dear Beloved Friends: Please read an e-mail exchange between the Spoons yesterday. (read from bottom up) I am hoping it will inspire a “RAOK” (Random Act of Kindness) club of sorts. We can all share our experiences in a blog. Speaking of blogs – does anyone have that particular skill-set to set one up? I wanted to start with a small group of people who I thought would be up for it … but we can all invite more people to join too – from all over the globe. Anyway – it’s an idea I wanted to throw out there for consideration.

Love,
Kristine

---

From: Witherspoon, Robert
Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2008 3:03 PM
To: Kristine Witherspoon
Subject: RE: Random Act of Kindness

Good story,

I like your concept, you do gooder! I had a promo t-shirt in my office collecting dust…and I went out on ponce where all the day labor people wait. Found the scruffiest fellow I could and offered a nice clean shirt to him. Just did a hand off …and kept on walking. He thanked me and smiled. We do random acts of kindness every day we go to work- we both make a difference respectively.

Robert

From: Kristine Witherspoon
Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2008 2:07 PM
Subject: Random Act of Kindness

After I visited Chloe for lunch – I went to the post office across from Publix on Piedmont (near North). A homeless man opened the door for me (since I was struggling with a big box to send to Manu).

Upon my return he asked for some change … but I didn’t have any. Since I was going to Publix to get some things for our girl Chloe (and a sandwich for me) --- I decided to buy a sandwich for the fellow who helped me out. He was delighted and said … “Mam --- you didn’t need to feel obligated just because I opened the door … but I’m glad you did because my stomach was empty.” Then, he flashed me the best smile and I left.

I will do more of these simple acts.

They really pay off in good feelings for all.

It would be fun to have a little “random act of kindness” club – and share our stories.