A Month of Thankfulness - November 19

 My posts have been rather sporadic, and I hope anyone who is reading them understands that COVID has been wiping me out.  

Today I am thankful for friend that endure.

Karen and I became friends when we were teaching together at West Central.  She is one of the best teachers I have ever worked with.   She was 'small yet mighty' and could affect the toughest football player who needed help .  She was so compassionate, knowledgeable, and goal-oriented.  There are countless West Central graduates who have much to thank her for.  It is because of her that they did graduate and that most of them became productive members of society.

She also cared for students NOT in her classroom.  She was the advisor of Sunshine Society for many years and led several groups of girls through not only school activities but also encouraged them to excel at the state level.  

But most important to me was her interest in Megan and Hilary.  From the time they were in high school to this day, she has been supportive of them, their goals, their activities, their families, and their careers.  Not many good friends have done that.

Today Karen called me, just to check on me and to hear my voice, which she said sounded deeper than she remembers!  When she and Paul left Indiana for a new home in  Whidbey Island, Washington state, in 2002, we made the usual 'we will keep in touch' promises.  Usually those intentions fall by the wayside in a few months, if not in a few weeks.  However, this is one friendship that has endured.

Email helps, of course.  But not too much time passes by without one or the other  of us sending an email to the other, filling in on the news, the events, the happenings. Pictures can be attached to emails so those can be shared.  Since we have each other's phone numbers also, we can send texts (and pictures) occasionally also.  

When Megan was named Librarian of the Year, Karen sent her a card.  I could hear the excitement in Megan's voice when she called to tell me about it.  

And today----just talking to Karen made me feel SO much better.   She is a good friend.  She makes me laugh.  She makes me think.  

She makes me thankful....for friends.