Usual Christmas wishes: uniquely special (as usual :-))

[Judith]

Bet you can guess what I'm going to say--and you're right! Merry Christmas, yall! I hope our NE and Midwest contingents aren't having to battle the weather too awful much.

This Christmas is especially festive for me since I'll have both my daughters home for the holidays, first time we've all been together in at least five years. The older teaches now in Colombia, S.A. (previously Milan, before that Orkney, Scotland), the younger in Hawaii (previously Portland, Oregon). I taught creative writing the whole time they were growing up, had hopes they'd rebel and go into something other than teaching, something lucrative. . .but nooooooooo.

The one concrete plan we have during their visit is--go to the boat. They want to see where I spend so much time and, even when I'm not there, so much thought.

Wishing you all an equally-rewarding holiday,
Judith

[ronkberg]

Judith, I applaud your selected vocations and wish that teachers were more appreciated, i.e. paid more, in the states. Many of us can remember some very good teachers......and a few bad ones too.....and have had our futures molded by their excellent teaching techniques. I gained a math comprehension that allowed me to go into engineering and have had a wonderful career.

Please take my "attaboy" and pass it along to your daughters when you have your Christmas celebrations.

My best to you and your family and to all CDSOA members for happy holidays and a healthy 2008.

Ho, Ho, Ho from Ron in Maine.

[Judith]

Thank you, Ron. Very nice to have some teacher appreciation: done properly, it can be a demanding-yet-immensely-rewarding job. I'm glad you had some good `uns!

I shall, indeed, pass along the <ahem> "attagirls"

Happy Holidays from a very dry non-snowy North Carolina!

Judith

[Wayne Brown]

Among other things teachers have done for me is to introduce me to sailing. I had always messed around boats, canoes and swimming but had never been in a sailboat. In high school my homeroom teacher one day ask if anyone wanted to go sailing with him that weekend. No knowledge of sailing was required, only familiarity with boats and swimming. I was the only one who volunteered and I was so surprised that we could go all over the lake without rowing or paddling. I sailed with him all that summer in his Lighting and learned the basics and the joy of sailing. Thanks Mr. Westgate.

[Paul D.]

I try to take the high school aged work campers at the Wilderness Camp I work at out sailing on days off. It is always fun and they are very appreciative. See, someone took me sailing once and it is a life skill unlike basketball or football really.

Hooray to all teachers who are asked to do so much and go out of their way so often.

All the best, and ho ho ho,
Paul

[Neil Gordon]

I remember when Mr. Rodner first explained, with vector diagrams, how a boat could sail to windward. That was amazing magic, along the lines of an anti-gravity machine. I had to have one.

[Dixon Hemphill]

The following may not fit in this catagory but I hope it will suffice.

In the Jan '08 issue of Sailing magazine there is a full page photo of a sailor cruising on the Pawcatuck River located on the Connecticut-Rhode Island border. This picture took me by surprise because it's exactly where about 70 years ago I learned to sail in my used 18' Cape Cod Knockabout which I bought for $75.00.

My wish? To sail next summer my current Cape Dory 28 from its present slip in Annapolis up the Eastern Seaboard to those same waters. It will take some serious planning and the recruiting of someone to join me but if all goes well I will make the trip.

To all the other CDSOA members I wish you Happy Holidays and smooth sailing in 2008.

[Judith]

Thanks, yall! I was surprised (and, OK, quite gratified) by the nice thoughts about teachers that surfaced--AND I shared them with my young'uns, who were very appreciative. How totally wonderful to see that teaching does plant its little seeds. . .

A perfectly splendid 2008 to all!

Judith

[rtbates]

My wife is a 30 year retired school teacher. My hat's off, and my heart appreciates, anyone who takes on the noble task of teaching our future citizens...