Today I returned to work at school, after taking a few days off following the passing of my mom on Tuesday night. This afternoon, one of the fifth graders gave me a handmade card, which many of the fifth graders had signed.
Pretty nice thing to do. And kind of funny, also. Here are a few of their thoughts:
Mr. Miller – I feel so, so, so, well you get the idea, sorry.
Dear Mr. Miller – Soon you will be OK (a big smiley face was drawn next to this one).
Dear Mr. Miller – I’m sorry about your mom. Here are some stickers.
And finally…
Dear Mr. Miller – I’m sorry that your mom die. You are the best music teacher ever.
I like that last one, because I think the “best music teacher ever” thing is supposed to make up for the “mom die” thing. So over the next few weeks and months when I’m having a bad day, or maybe next week at the funeral, I can say to myself, “You know, this is kind of a hard thing. However, I can take comfort in the fact that I am, after all, the best music teacher ever. So there’s that.”
***Note to any of my readers who are overly-sensitive (and you know who you are)… Some things, no matter when they occur, are just funny. And my mom would probably be laughing at this.
charley's blog 
You are the best music teacher ever…..and my sympathy goes out to you in your loss of your Mom.
Well, I always thought you were the best Pastor ever, but I guess you’ve been elevated by 5th graders. Thanks for sharing…..I think it’s a beautiful thing!!
Charley: I am sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. What a week this has been with Perry’s dad passing away also. May God bless and comfort you.
Sorry about your mom, Charley. Good thing you are the best music teacher ever 🙂
Nice to think about your mom laughing at those cards with you. And after experiencing the death of both my dearly loved inlaws this past year, I wish *I* could have gotten some fifth grade sympathy cards.
What kind of stickers did you get?
Before my mom died in 2005, she asked that there be a mariachi band performing at her memorial gathering. She also requested that there be copious amounts of Mexican food, and many shared memories and stories. And so there was.
Sheryl and I have been keeping you in our thoughts and our prayers.
While I have never studied under you (but I have studied next to you…) I have no doubt that you are the best music teacher ever.