A Conversation

 Was it a myth?   "We began to question whether this really happened," said Emily.  Then Natalie texted us all.  "In case you were wondering if armpit hair can survive over 30 years...." I'm not sure what's funnier: the idea of a card with hairs on it or keeping said card with hairs for over thirty years.  

 Dear Mrs. Mariner,  Hope you've been doing well!  I recently finished your short stories from Backward and Blind, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading all your teaching adventures!  Part of me wishes I heard more of these stories in middle and high school, but perhaps I wouldn't have been mature enough to appreciate them.  One of my favorites was the feminism debate story.  I felt inspired by how you were a role model not only in the classroom, but also just in the world as a well informed citizen.  I can only imagine how impactful this leadership was for your students then, where gender discrimination still pervaded the atmosphere.  I also enjoyed the stories about the swim meet and leg hairs and the poisonous plant, and I smiled seeing Pascal's triangle make yet another appearance in my life.  Understanding how you made an impact on your students' education (and beyond) made me grateful for your coaching MathCounts.  Maybe I already had s...

 I feel so flattered and warmed by friends' responses. I'm not sure what I expected, but I did not intend this additional feeling of awkwardness. A dear friend who lives in Utah asked her book club if they wanted to read this book; they did. I asked her to please let me know how the book group went. My friend wrote, "Our book group last night went great!! They loved your book and loved hearing my personal stories of how amazing you are.  They loved the short vignette chapters of your book because it made it so they could read it in smaller pieces around their schedules.  They think you are an amazing warrior who sees something that needs to be done and does it, rather than just thinking that it's always been this way so it won't change, or waiting for someone else to lead the way.  They mentioned several quotes they liked. I don't remember them all, but one was near the end of the book where you said something about allowing people to change and not be the pers...

 A dear old friend writes:  I got your book for Christmas yesterday and finished reading it this morning! I loved it! It was fun to fit the pieces of what I knew from our time together into the rest of your history. The part about being open to gardening wisdom from Barbara was especially meaningful to me because you allowed my children to cut some of those beautiful flowers from your yard to give to me at the hospital after you had cared for my older 2 children while I had my 3rd baby. The flowers were so lovely and you had already done so much for me in caring for my children, that it felt over the top for you to do something so kind and personal -- and my kids were so pleased to get to give them to me.   Thanks for all you have done for me even after we no longer lived near each other -- for the encouragement you gave me with my son's cancer and for the help you gave me getting up to speed in competition math. You made a huge impact on my life and I wasn't even a ...

A reader retired from private school life writes me:  "I have to tell you that I'm laughing out loud already, even though I just started your book."  (Two days pass) "Ok now I'm really laughing! You had to shave your legs and armpits as promised! I once offered to shave my head if they ever won the championship game.  It motivated them, but they still lost.  I kept my hair."  (Another day passes) "OMG we really have to talk one day. The name of our 5k running/walking team to raise money for cancer research is called the Forest Bathers!"  Another reader who teaches in public schools:  "I have stories, too, that will make you laugh.  My colleagues do as well. Could you please write them all down for us?  Let's talk!  We need these stories recorded.  This could be your next book." The community of teaching professionals may be fragmented by school, region, or philosophy, but there's a commonality of experiences.  One reader commen...

 "You know, Cathy lives in Seoul," one of the women who swam on the team I coached in the 1980's reports.  I had seen Cathy's enthusiastic Facebook posts about being a swim coach, traveling internationally, and connecting well with high schoolers. There's little that energizes me more than seeing a former student take on a role similar to one I assumed, especially when she excels and moves beyond what I ever did.   Paul and I were traveling to Korea so he could participate in an international meeting in Busan. We were to fly in and out of Seoul, making our own way by train to the southeastern coast. It seemed like tacking on a day or two in Seoul could really happen.  I sent Cathy a Facebook message. Even though nearly thirty years had passed since I had seen her, I knew that we would jump right back into a friendship.  She answered my message immediately and began making plans.  Arrival at the security gate at the school, the official needed verificat...

Dana's family story is included near the end of Backward and Blind.   Since the birth of her two children, we've stayed in closer touch; I've so enjoyed seeing photos of the grins and growth of her son and daughter.  "I'd love to have you visit sometime," I said on the phone about a year ago.   "We'd love to see you too," Dana added.  "Albuquerque has an amazing hot-air balloon fiesta the first week of October, annually.  Upwards of five-hundred hot air balloons take off early in the morning -- we could go walk around as they set up and rise into the air.  The kids would love it."  I almost could hear her eyebrows rising.  "Google it," I suggested.   Several weeks later, she texted with dates.  "Are these dates okay for a visit?"   I was beside myself.  Dana was now a well-established mother, successful professional, and fun friend. She lives an airplane flight from my home city.  She'd really come visit her...