RAE’S READS

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This year (2025) finds me with 53 years of teaching “under my belt.” I have taught all levels from pre-K “(library lady” or “book lady”–volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 34 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the “difficult years.” I had some of the “funnest” experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the “young, fun teacher,” I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a “dream-fit” for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching. This past fall I accepted a part-time teaching job at Apogee Gulf Coast Schools in its first year at the Alvin campus. After my Better Half died n 2022, I achieved a lifelong dream: opening a bookstore of my own, Rae’s Reads. A year later, I sold the house we had lived in for 47 years and moved into the bookstore. My goal is to circulate and repurpose books. Just as teaching is “in my blood,” so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish. This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to “come out and play.”

FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY

Today’s thoughts are all about friendships. They came to me from one of my early mentors, Virginia Kernaghan.

When I was twenty-five or so, this speech and drama teacher was my mentor.

Words from Virginia Hollis Kernaghan:

“Since I have lived in many different places, and taught school for many years, there have been numerous special people in my life, some briefly, some for a lifetime. With the advent of computers and the availability of email, I hear from people who have never picked up a pen to write a letter, but now I hear from them now on email. Many of them still visit me in person, making my life richer because of their friendship. These people I call my angels…

Not long ago, a former student, Gary Mutchler, sent me the following poem. The author is unknown.

‘I wrote your name on a piece of paper, but by accident I threw it away.

I wrote your name on my hand, but it washed away.

I wrote your name in the sand, but the waves washed it away.

I wrote your name in my heart, and forever it will stay.

I believe in angels,

The kind that Heaven sends.

I’m surrounded by angels,

But I call them my friends.’ “

Friends are angels; they are the ones who call or text to check on how you’re doing. They are the ones who write on their calendar the date you’ll get test results, then call to see how things came out. They remember that your husband loves liver and onions, but you hate to cook it; then they send a dish of liver and onions when they make it for themselves, along with a portion of chicken and noodles for you. Yippee! I don’t have to cook tonight! Doctors have told us that “connectivity” is very important for Senior Citizens; in fact, for all of us. Friends are what keeps our connections going, and we have to ourselves be a friend; to reach out, to check on someone, to drop by with a “Nothingsday” gift. The old saying goes, “To have a friend, you must be one.” Do something in the name of friendship today.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

RAE

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One response to “FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY”

  1. Carla Avatar
    Carla

    That is beautiful, Rae. I try to do something each day to promote friendship. I might miss a few days here and there, but I do try. I think if we all did that, the world would be a much happier place.

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