(PREAMBLE: This was originally written two years ago today, 12/14/2022. As you read this memory, you might ask yourself, “How tough was she?”. So tough that I made a 99 on a test for misspelling a word. Every test had to be taken home & signed by a parent, there were never any surprises at report card time. The 99 had a note attached with “sorry old buddy!” & a big red ink circle around the offending word. Neither of my parents went charging into the schoolhouse to intercept my trouble or express offense. My dad told me to check my spelling & that was that. I also brought home a test with a grade of “74?”. The question mark not questioning my ability but certainly questioning my effort. As I’ve gotten older & thought of what consequence might result from an action or in hindsight dealt with the consequences of my actions, I view my situation through the lenses of my Dad & Grandad, two coaches, & a red ink “99” & “74?”. Essentially, that life is about showing up & never giving up, checking your work, & giving your best effort to avoid the question marks…)

THE FINAL CHRISTMAS BREAK, A SONATA OF FOOTBALL, MATH, & SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE KEY OF HUMANITY: As students & faculty count the days until the start of Christmas break, this one’s different. This week when the doors are locked for Christmas break, they will be locked forever. A new school building is finished & so is the old one but not without a story today or a goodbye letter later this week. At this time of year, I can’t help but think of paper football & my 6th grade teacher at Elbert Long School, Mrs. Rebekah Farrow. Under her slight frame & dark ebony skin lived a tough cookie that stressed the fundamentals like a good football coach. She was the Nick Saban & his “process” of arithmetic. The “2 through 12 times tables” a special favorite of hers. She understood that one does use math in adulthood. A fact we found out as she followed us into the junior high section of the school & instructed our 7th & 8th grade math classes. Spending a majority of my grown up time in the building industry, I had an advantage in understanding the geometry of an arched or right angled window, the algebra of a staircase or most importantly, the juggling act of credits, debits, month, & money disguised as a family checkbook. Three times, however, Mrs. Farrow showed a softer side. Opening Day of MLB 1974, the day Hank Aaron was going for number 714, she made some boys happy by strolling over to a big black & white TV, turning it on & granting our repeated, begging requests to watch The Hammer try to tie The Babe. Being a good educator & seizing the moment, the next day’s Social Studies lesson included Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, MLK, & Freedom Riders. Second, an October 1976 Friday morning. The preceding day, our football team made a second half comeback to defeat Notre Dame. One day I was privileged to both steal an Irish pass & fire off a pass that ended in six points on our way to a 22-7 victory. As I made my way toward the stairway that led up to Mrs. Welch’s homeroom, I could see her outside of her classroom, silhouetted by a big picture window at the stairway landing. It was obvious she had her crosshairs fixed on me & she slid out to block my way. I was met with a big hug & then her ebony hands clutched my white cheeks & she told me how proud she was of “me & the boys”. A black teacher & a white student, locked in a hug, two keys on life’s piano enjoying the chords of a gridiron triumph. I like to think it was the endgame of Rosa’s opening gambit of “Nah”, when asked to vacate her Montgomery bus seat or what Martin was dreaming about on the Mall in ’63. Lastly, the day of Christmas break, all day in 6th grade & for the hour class period in 7th & 8th grade, we boys sat with desks against each other playing paper football. Flicking with our fingers a folded paper triangle so it would dangle just so over a desk edge for a touchdown. Mrs. Farrow was the hardest, most demanding, most able to reach into the soul & pull the best out of it teacher I ever had, except for a few moments of tenderness that included the day of Christmas break….that day it was desks pushed together & the fear of losing an eye on every field goal attempt 🏈