Double T

The Double T is for Texas Tech University. When I was a junior in high school, I went with my best friend and her parents to her college orientation at Texas Tech University. The campus was gorgeous. Tons of old trees, wide open spaces, cool old dorms, a kick butt athletic center. I had a great time, I caught senioritis, and I fell in love with the school.

I ended up going to Tech partially because of this visit, and partially because they dealt with me better than Texas A&M did. No matter what the reason, I spent five years at this school. My initial response to the campus proved to be true. Tech was an awesome school.

Unfortunately, Texas Tech University is in Lubbock, Texas. And while I loved and love Tech to this day, there was no happier day in my life than the one when my father drove us away in a UHaul when I graduated. Happiness truly is Lubbock in your rearview mirror.

Color Guard

My first teaching assignment was at my alma matar. When I was a student there, I was a huge band geek. I was in the marching band and concert band. I loved the daily music fix, and I loved being part of an organization full of people with interests similar to mine. During April of my first year teaching, I agreed to be the color guard sponsor for the marching band for the following school year. (At the time, I planned on indefinitely.)

This was a mistake. My relationship with the head director had not been positive. He played favorites and was not a nice man. I thought as a teacher, this would change, but I was seriously mistaken. What I didn't know when I was happily going about my business during the beginning of the following year is that the person who had been hired to teach the girls in the color guard was not following the rules. So much so, that he ended up being fired for misconduct with a student about half-way through the marching season before he'd finished coreographing the routine.

The girls were devastated. And although I couldn't teach them, I could love them. And I did. I was serious about protecting them from all the things that were happening around them. Even through all the backlashes from the head director, total lack of communication and utter hostility, I came to see these young ladies as "my girls."

One of "my girls", Caroline, gave this charm to me for Christmas that year. My goal is that one day I'll be able to look at it and just remember the great times I had with her and the rest of the group. For now, it's a precious reminder of the importance of loving those you come in contact with.

I was only the sponsor of this group for one year. And even though taking the job was a mistake, I wouldn't change a thing. I learned a lot. And those lessons have ended up being important thoughout my career.

Eye of Horus

I love Egypt. I have been fascinated by ancient Egyptian history for a long time. My favorite part of ancient Egypt is the mythology. The stories of the gods and godesses are so cool. My favorite of the pantheon of ancient Egyptian gods is Horus. He was the god of goodness and light, which is cool. His eye was the moon. I'm a fan of the moon. Especially taking pictures of it. I've always thought the moon was exceptionally beautiful. Given all of the cool meaning, this charm was a present to myself. Hey, I didn't say all of the charms were gifts!

Easter Egg

A few years ago, my parents purchased a few charms for my bracelet. I think they were for my birthday, but I don't remember the exact ocassion. What I do remember is that my dad was the deliverer of gifts and he had a special explanation for this charm. He said he picked out an egg because, "that's how you started out." Ah. My father. I thought it was a little weird, but mostly I thought it was funny because I get my dad's sense of humor. It sure has been a fun one to explain though. No one expects that story.

Number 7

My favorite number is the number 7. One night as I was checking out the cool charms on eBay, I decided that my bracelet needed a number 7 on it, so I ordered it, and here it is.

Why the number 7 you ask? The answer to that question is the fun part of the story behind this charm. So here it goes:

1. In Judeo-Christian tradition, the number 7 symbolizes completeness or perfection. I like that.
2. If you continue looking at the symbolism of numbers in Judeo-Christian tradition, the number 7 is the summation of God (symbolized by the number 3 - the godhead) and man (symbolized by the number 4). God + Man = Completeness or Perfection. 3+4=7. Cool.
3. There are 7 members of my immediate family: My mom, my dad, me, Rebecca, Adam, Elizabeth, and Rachel.
4. If you count the two babies that didn't make it to full term, there are 7 kids in my immediate family.
5. On the 7th day, God rested, and I need the reminder to rest since I have a tendency to fill my plate to overflowing.
6. It's a prime number. Prime numbers are cool.
7. Bond. James Bond.

Special Teacher by James Avery

My first year of teaching was incredibly challenging. I was hired two weeks into the school year because the enrollment was much higher than anticipated, and I'd made a good impression on the director of personnel. As a result of my late start, I was assigned one class from one teacher (who was exceptionally awesome, and the kids had already bonded with her - a.k.a. the class from hell), one class from another teacher (who was a first-year teacher just like me and was so grateful to have her load lightened), and one class was created taking students from various classes throughout the school to lower the numbers in those classes. For some reason, that last class and I had an instant rapport, and became quite close. I always looked forward to seeing them.

That spring, about a week before my 24th birthday, one of the kids asked me if I'd step in the hall for a minute because they (the class) had something they needed to talk about. I was puzzled, but I did as they asked. I think the only reason this worked is that I was inexperienced, I trusted them, and their request was totally unexpected. What I found out a week later is that they had decided to go in together on a gift for me for my birthday, and they were making arrangements.

I was so touched when I was presented with this beautiful charm by James Avery on a silver chain. I immediately put it on, beaming with a huge silly grin, and wore it every day for the rest of the school year.

That summer, I moved out of my parents' house into my first apartment in San Antonio. I'd had to live with them that year because I couldn't afford my own place. I packed everything as if I was moving to another state, including my charm. But when I unpacked my things, I couldn't find my charm. I was so upset. I scoured my new apartment and then scoured my parents' home to no avail. It was gone. I'd lost it.

About seven months later on Christmas morning, my dad was playing Santa, passing presents out one gift at a time as he has done for all of the Christmases I can remember (barring one when he decided he was sick of being Santa). As we were going around, oohing and aahing as presents were opened one by one, it came to my turn. In a little James Avery box, was the charm you see at the top of this post. My mom told me that the charm was partly to replace the one I'd lost, and partly because they were so proud of me. I think I actually cried (I'm a huge sap).

This charm was actually the reason I started wearing my bracelet. There was no way I was going to lose this charm again, so I took it and the charms my parents had given me in high school, and I had James Avery size the bracelet and solder the charms on.

Heart with Capital S

A few years ago, in addition to my academic classes, I had a class which was devoted to helping students who were struggling for various reasons. Some of them had disciplinary issues, some of them had attendance issues, and some of them needed just needed extra help.

One of these students was a young man, David*, who was struggling due to absences, a tendency to not turn in homework, and, because he had two very very successful older brothers, had a slight inferiority complex. I saw right through all of this. David was so scared that he couldn't measure up to his brothers that he was subconsciously sabotaging himself. And I wasn't going to let him do it. Some days, it felt like I was pulling teeth to get David to do what was necessary for him to succeed, but succeed he did.

This might seem totally unrelated. But stay with me. I am a birthday lover. I love birthdays. I love the cake, the singing, the presents, making a big deal, I love it all. But most of all, I love my birthday. I remember in my 20s, my dad once told me that I needed to stop making such a big fuss about my birthday, that I was getting too old. Hah! Not me. I still start counting down to my big day 4 months in advance. And at school, I start reminding my kids that they only have X number of days left until my birthday in February. (My big day is in April.)

Ok. Back to David. The year I taught David was no different that any other birthday year. Not really expecting my kids (students) to do anything, I started announcing my birthday. Finally, my big day arrived, and so did David, with a small gift box for me. I opened it up, and in it was the charm at the top of this post. I thought it either stood for my first initial or for his last initial, but as I was ooing and awing over it, he said, wait. Let me explain. The S doesn't stand for what you think it does. It stands for Second Chances, because that's what you gave me.

If you don't think there were tears at that one... Well, here's the best part. I've had the chance to work with David closely during all of his four years in high school through the organization I sponsor at school. He's graduating number 1 in his class this spring. I love that kid.

*Not his real name.

Kitty on Amber Ball

I have at least one charm on my bracelet from most of my best friends. As my best bud, Jessie, started to notice my charms seeming to multiply overnight at times, she decided that she wanted a charm to remind me of her. In order to really understand her choice, I need to tell you a few things about Jessie. First, she's incredibly thoughtful and insightful. Second, she's really creative and has the talent to back up her creativity. Third, my Jessie is a true blue readhead...porcelain skin with cute freckles and all.

Growing up I never had a pet. My father is allergic to anything with fur or feathers, and someday I'll explain why I should never, ever own a fish. So, no pets for me. Fast forward to my late 20s. I lived alone, and I'd been considering getting a pet for years. Finally, my best friend, Maretta, took me to the animal shelter where I found a beautiful black kitten. When all of the other kittens had left me to play with each other, this one stayed with me. When I picked her up, she curled up in my lap in a ball the size of a paperback novel, and went to sleep. I was smitten. I named her Viola after the character in Twelfth Night.

Jessie, being the kitty lover she is, loved my Viola too. So, knowing that I didn't have any kitty charms (yet), and that all of my charms were solely sterling silver (at the time), bought this beautiful charm for me. I love it because the amber ball reminds me of Jessie's hair. The kitty playing with the ball reminds me of how cute Viola was when she was a kitten. And every time I look at it, I am immediately reminded of Jessie.

There's an interesting postscript to this story. It's been years since Jessie gave me my silver and amber kitty charm. And just this summer, a cat with eyes the exact same color as that ball adopted me. Even more importantly, my cats have a "godmother." She's not a real godmother of course, but if anything ever happens to me, she's promised to take them and care for them until they die. Who is this "godmother" you ask? It's Jessie, of course. Who else?

Ice Cream Cone by James Avery

During the week before teachers were supposed to report for duty at the high school I'd just transferred to, the administration held a welcome meeting with the principal. Because I wasn't a new teacher and I'd just transferred within the district, somehow I didn't get the message until 10 minutes before said meeting while I was painting the podium in my new room, wearing my icky painting clothes.

Yes, I went. And it was awesome! Not because the meeting was good. I can't remember a single thing the principal said. No. What was awesome is that just as the meeting started, my best friend from high school walked in the door with her teacher mentor. She had just been hired to teach at the same school! I yelled, "Maretta!?!" When she realized who had just yelled out her name she cried, "Sarah!!" We hugged and giggled and talked through the whole meeting. It was wonderful.

After college, Maretta and I had lost touch for about three years. I heard about what was going on with her through her family a few times, but other than that, we had no contact. I always remembered her birthday, and I thought of her often. But to end up teaching at the same school was the coolest, neither of us thought coincidence, ever.

That first year was difficult for both of us. I contracted mono and had to sleep during my lunch breaks in order to make it through the day, and Maretta was going through the hell that is the first year of teaching. So we started a little tradition. Whenever we had a really really bad day, we'd get ice cream at Baskin Robbins on the way home and just relax and talk. It was special time just for us. I honestly think it played a big role in keeping both of us sane. For my birthday (I think it was the 30th), Maretta gave me this charm to commemorate our tradition and the rekindling of a very important friendship.

The ice cream days are over now. Our Baskin Robbins is closed. Maretta was blessed to be able to stay home when she had her first baby, and now that she has two, our crazy schedules make it difficult for us to see each other as often as we'd like. But every time I see that charm, it reminds me of her and how much I love her.

Origination

Sometime during my senior year in high school, my parents gave me a charm bracelet and two charms from James Avery. As I didn't appreciate all the joys of jewelry yet at that tender (and silly) age, I put them away and left them in the box until I graduated from college. Once I began teaching, I finally discovered the joy of charm bracelets while admiring the unique and individual bracelets of my students. So I dug out my bracelet, got it resized, and here I am, well over 40 charms. Even though the bracelet is stretched out from wear and so many charms, I love to wear my bracelet. It's like wearing my friends and family on my wrist. But it's also because there is a story behind every charm. Some of them are funny, some sweet, some sad, but all of them are important to me. I hope you'll enjoy them as I share them with you.