Friday, May 01, 2009

May Day Memories




When I was in fourth grade, my teacher called me to her desk. She asked if I wanted to be one of the princesses in the court who rode in the May Day festival our schools put on each year.


I ran home and burst into the kitchen to tell my mother. The invitation was the biggest thing to ever happen to me.


She quickly hired a seamstress to sew me a light blue gown complete with a hoop in the bottom. The evening of the event, I rode in the back of an open convertible that paraded around the football field. The stands were packed with parents and the lights twinkled across the colorful Maypoles. I waved and smiled till my teeth hurt.


But my most vivid memory that spring night was of the Maypole Queen. She offered me her soft white stole to wrap around my shoulders when it got cooler. I remember thinking how nice this Senior was to me--a little fourth grader.


I never forgot her kindness.


I also will never forget the kindness of so many more experienced writers who have offered me great advice or a word of encouragement or places to submit during this writing ride.

So today I'd like to say thank you everyone for being the Kings and Queens in my court. Happy May Day!






23 comments:

Greg C said...

I wish I had some memories like that but all I was the kid that everyone picked on in school. I always got picked last for teams and if by chance I was picked next to last, that was a big deal for me. Maybe that is why I am so competative today. By George I may be on to something.

In highschool, a very good friend asked me if she could lean her head on my shoulder during a night bus ride. We were only friends but for some reason that was special to me.

Kristen Painter said...

Happy May Day!

Susan Storm Smith said...

OH I loved dancing the May Pole. It was reserved for 6th grade girls only. It was The End-all of grade school.

I enjoyed your memory with you and it leads one to think of school experiences, some nice and some better left.

But .. Happy May Day!!

Great Grandma Lin said...

I remember dancing around the may pole. It was only a few years ago when I organized a reunion for my modern dance buddies from college. We all we dance majors and a maypole was the easiest kind of dance at our advanced ages. lol!

Tana said...

What a fun memory! Happy May day!

Angie Ledbetter said...

You're the queen now, handing out the kindnesses.

Janna Leadbetter said...

Oh wow! I forgot about maypoles. I wonder if my daughter's school will do one today?

Happy May!

Jessica Nelson said...

That's so sweet. Great tie-in to writing. :-)

I'm not sure I've ever even seen a maypole.

Eileen Astels Watson said...

Happy May Day to you, too, Terri. What a beautiful memory to share. It really does make a difference when we reach out to others, young or old, doesn't it! In honor of May Day, I'm going to smile till it hurts and keep on smiling for all the sales clerks I pass as I take my girls dress shopping late this afternoon.

Warren Baldwin said...

It is amazing how you remember so vividly a kind high school senior was to you when you were only in the 4th grade. I try to tell our church high school youth group that they have no idea how powerful their influence is on the younger kids in their lives (at church, home, etc.). What might happen if we could start a grass-roots approach to training high school kids to mentor younger kids?

Renee Collins said...

Happy May Day to you!

I'll never forget when I performed at a May Day festival. I was in fourth grade too. We had just moved to Hawaii. So, that was the time that I learned my first hula, and we performed on May Day for the whole town. It was amazing.

Wendy Paine Miller said...

What an honor for you! How sweet. I loved my fourth grade year as well. Don't teachers make the biggest difference! Oh, happy day to you!

~ Wendy

Jill Kemerer said...

You sure have a knack for bringing the warm-fuzzies to me. Thanks for brightening my day!

On my wedding day, there were a gaggle of little girls looking up at me as if I were a princess, so I let each of them take turns trying on my veil. It made me happier than it made them! Who doesn't want to feel special?
Have a great weekend!

Yolanda said...

Oh, Happy May Day to you as well!!

Julie Gillies said...

Awww, what an adorable story. Acts of kindness live on in our memories forever, don't they?

Happy May Day.

Beth in NC said...

That is a sweet story! I wish you had a picture of you in that dress.

Jenni James said...

Awww.. I best you were the most beautiful mayday queen ever! Congratulations! And how wonderful that senior was so nice! Jenni

Connie Arnold said...

Thanks for sharing the great memories, Terri. Happy May Day to you too!

Kathleen said...

I can't think of May Day without seeing my daughter Molly (now 38) when she was little. She and her best buddy JoEll always picked flowers and ran from house-to-house hanging pretty baskets on doorknobs, then running off with glee.

What simple times.

Kathleen

Jody Hedlund said...

What a beautiful memory! Happy May day to you too!

Alleluiabelle said...

I bet you were as precious as could be. Memories that are pressed so dear into our hearts always remain ever so vividly clear in our minds as well.

Happy May Day Terri!

((Hugs,))
Alleluiabelle

Unknown said...

Interesting! I found you at The Mirage Writer and noticed you said you write for Christian magazines or publications. I must know more...this is where I want to be headed myself someday!

I will have to follow your blog more...blessings on your day!!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Great analogy, Terri. I've also been blessed by more advanced writers offering a helping hand.

Have a great weekend!

Susan :)