Roots, Branches, or...Both?

"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots." ~Marcus Garvey

And so I ask, how can we grow without roots? We grow many branches throughout our lives; but our roots, wherever they began, wherever they are, wherever they end up, are an important part of who we are. We may choose to embrace them or discard them, but we cannot ignore them.


Students, I am really impressed with the Where I'm From poems you wrote! Each of you took an introspective look into your past and shared pieces of your history that make you unique. Remember our connection to World Literature for this assignment: Our goal is to first examine our individual past and culture; to appreciate our own uniqueness, so that we can then have a deeper appreciation for the different cultures and literary histories of other people.

I told you that while you were working on your polished pieces, I would be working as well. I shared with you that I have written several of these poems. I find that no matter how much I write, there is still much to tell. Since I have already shared a poem that is reflective of my childhood,I focused on more recent aspects of my life for this particular poem. I hope you enjoy.

Where I'm From...

I am from the hardwood floors we sanded and stained ourselves, Great Value coffee perking on the stove, and a living room overflowing with Barbies.

I am from the grey house and our big front porch where we sit on our wooden swing and watch the sunset in the west. Here, we marvel at all the colors of the sky.

I am from the butterfly bushes and the “Lydia tulips” I planted when she was in my belly. From the yard where we danced barefoot in the rain and flew like airplanes one summer evening, too happy to care whether anyone was watching.

I am from pulling out my china on Christmas morning to serve breakfast, from honesty is the best policy, from Robert, Lydia, Lil Bit, and Sophie, too.

I am from the husband who leads me by example in love, and Saturday mornings when I can snuggle on the couch with my daughter.

From “I love you more than a pig loves slop” and “Friends? Best Friends. Forever? Forever and ever.”

I am from Baptists, couples devotions, and the belief that God must be the center of our marriage.

I am from Stoneville, where my husband’s entire family once occupied every house on the road (or so it seems to me), from potato soup when I’m sick, and rice and beans in the crock pot when there’s snow on the ground.

I am from late nights long ago, before Bob and Delta had a kid or dogs, the kitchen with my Brady Bunch floor and my matching stove, and the hall that houses our family’s military history.

I am from the scrapbooks, one for each year, each one two inches thick. The ones I have pieced together with painstaking love so that my daughter will remember and know that she is loved.

~Mrs. Rorrer
January 28, 2010

Where I'm From

Where Are You From?
"If you don't know where you're from, you'll have a hard time saying where you're going." ~Wendell Berry
We need to understand our roots to know our place in the world.

Since my students and I will be writing Where I'm From poems in class this week, I thought I would repost one of my old ones. This one focuses on memories from Dad's side of the family. I love to introduce this poem as a neat way to get students thinking and writing about things they have personal connections to. It's really awesome to see them take the template and make it their own. It's a great way to get to know students and gain insight into their lives.

Here's where I am from...
I am from fun-shaped pancakes, Nike before it was Nike Air, punchbowl cake and coffee, tin foil, and hose pipes.

I am from the white house with green shutters, the playhouse where I made mud pies with red berries and invited Daddy in for tea, and the living room where we broke the Atari joystick playing Pac Man.

I am from the angel trumpets in my grandmother's garden and the bushes of peonies that lined Daddy's sidewalk.

I am from the ghost stories of Coleman Street and a long line of dancers, from Grandma Elsie and her son Timmy, from honesty, hard work, and hugs given daily.

I am from stubbornness and those who speak their minds, from the holiday gatherings where I laughed with cousins as a child and cried with the same ones when Nannie died.

From "you're my favorite horse if you don't ever win a race" and "Don't take no wooden nickels." I'm from the "Sunny Side of the Street."

I am from the Methodists who sing all 4 verses of the hymn on Sunday morning and the Baptists who believe the Creation Story is no myth and that God is in control.

I am from Eden, the Wright brother's, the authentic First in Flight. From Nannie's orange Slice drink in a bottle on a hot summer day and Daddy's salmon cakes poppin' in their own grease on the stove.

From the soldier who served in Desert Storm when I was in the 5th grade, that feisty woman with the poofy white hair, and the woman who raised me like I was her own daughter.

I am from those who rest permanently on a hill off Sneed Road, the pictures I have to remember them by, from a father who tells me I am his hero, when really he is mine.

Cold Noses...Warm Hearts

The average dog has one request to all humankind. Love me."
~Helen Exley

Temperatures have dropped to record lows and the remnants of month old snow still lurk in shady spots all around our town. Cold weather has hit us hard over the last few weeks. We feel the stinging wind as we wrap our coats tightly and head out the door. We put on gloves, maybe an extra pair of socks, and make sure our kids wear an undershirt. Maybe you’ve enjoyed a nice pot of vegetable soup and a warm grilled cheese sandwich…Or chilly beans with crackers. “Good for you” food—the kind that warms you from the inside out.

But what about your animals? Do you have dogs or cats or any other living animal that depends on you for survival? Yes, I know that animals have a thick coat of fur, but in the frigid temperatures we have been experiencing, even the animals get cold. Wild animals are free to roam in search of food, water and shelter—a freedom that domesticated animals do not have. They depend on us totally for survival and do not deserve to be left in the cold. Remember that water freezes, and no animal can drink frozen water. When we get too cold, our feet and hands hurt. The same is true for animals. Their paws can hurt and even become frostbitten.

I am aware that some people will never agree with me in thinking that a family pet actually belongs in the home. I do however think it sad that those who do not share their home with their animals will never know the true companionship an animal can bring to one’s life. Dogs especially are pack animals and long to be near people. They deserve more than a life condemned to the far corner of a yard on a short chain or a little pen with no room for exercise.

I firmly believe that being a responsible pet owner consists of much more than delivering food and water to an animal once a day. We must love our animals and show compassion towards them and care for their well-being. If you are a pet owner, please take some extra precautions during these winter months to see that your animal has the provisions it needs to stay warm and healthy this winter. I urge you to bring your animals inside, but if this is not a possibility, check the water often, provide an extra blanket for warmth, and take steps to see that your animal is dry and blocked from the icy wind.

Animals cannot talk, but if they could, I bet they’d say “Thank you” and “I love you.” As for me, a lick and the wag of my dog’s tail is all I need to know that I am loved.

For more information about animal welfare visit these sites: www.dogsdeservebetter.org or www.unchainyourdog.org or www.HumaneSociety.org

On Being a Mom...

A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend. ~Author Unknown

When my daughter was a baby, I admit that I was often frustrated. As a new mother, I didn’t exactly find the whole motherhood thing to be all I had envisioned. She cried and I cried…and I’m pretty sure there were times when my husband cried too. But we all found a happy medium and here we are: taking one day at a time and actually loving it. We are a happy family.

Things have changed for us over the last four and a half years. There are no more dirty diapers and binkies are a thing of the past. No bottles and no jars of gushy, stinky baby food. (Today it’s mostly plain spaghetti noodles and chicken nuggets.) These are the little things that pass with time, as all things do. And when they do, new challenges arise to take their place. We’ve survived potty training, monsters in the dark, the first day of preschool – which I have to say was harder for us than for her.

Now we’re at a special time – the time when mom and dad are still cool, we still have most all of the answers we need to satisfy her ever-inquisitive mind, and we’re still her best buddies and biggest heroes. She still likes to be held and snuggled and doesn’t mind giving away those precious kisses and hugs. I guess as parents we’re still in a dream state because it seems like she’ll be our girl forever. We’ve not yet been tainted by teenage driving, the wrong boyfriend, or anything else that may surface in the teenage years.

Sometimes my daughter and I get to spend entire days together and do special girl things like shopping and going to lunch. Yesterday she wanted to help me in the kitchen, so I let her stand in the chair to wash the dishes. I didn’t even point out that some of the dishes still had suds on them when she placed them in the drainer. The important thing was that she wanted to help. She wanted to be with me, doing whatever I was doing. She felt empowered when I trusted her to wash the dishes “all by herself.”

I’ve learned a lot from watching my daughter over the last four years. She is not the only one who has been changing and growing. I may have potty trained her, but she is constantly life-training me. I’ve learned more about the person I want to be and I think that if I strive each day to be a little more like my daughter, I will be a better person. She’s eager to help others and loves her friends. Their happiness and feelings are of great importance to her. If they are sad, chances are, she is sad too. When she loves, there is no middle ground. She loves whole-heartedly and unconditionally. And in the same breath, she is learning to say “I’m sorry” when necessary. The difference between her and most adults I know is that I can look in her eyes and see that her apologies are sincere.

Sometimes I think she got the raw end of the deal by getting me for a mom. Surely there are mothers out there who are more fun, could give her more things in life, or could play pretend and Barbies better than I do. There are moms who can tie a prettier bow in a ponytail and bake better cookies. But there’s one thing they can’t do, and that’s love her like I do. I don’t always have the most patience and sometimes my frustrations shine through, despite efforts to stay calm. But we still enjoy those special times when it’s just us two, painting our nails, reading a book, or singing together in the car. Her smile can light up a room and she is my best girl friend.

So while she is learning to spell with the alphabet letters that decorate my refrigerator, I am learning to love with a more open heart and appreciate the tiny hands and little feet that make a big impression on everyone we meet.

Meet Savannah...

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”
~Mahatma Gandhi

Rockingham County Humane Society
Featured Pet
Savannah

Savannah is a great cat in need of a loving home. She is very sweet and great with people. She loves to be rubbed and purrs when her ears are scratched. Savannah and her kittens have been with us for a while. Some of her kittens have been adopted, but two (almost grown now) are still waiting for a home just like mom. If you are interested in adopting Savannah, please visit the Rockingham County Humane Society at 205 Boone Road in Eden, NC. Our adoption fee is $100 for puppies and dogs and $60 for kittens and cats. The adoption fee includes spaying and neutering, shots, and de-worming for all animals. The Rockingham County Humane Society is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday 11-4.

Teaching into 2010

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
~Alvin Toffler

Well, if you’re reading this, it means that 2010 is finally here. 2009 will soon be a distant memory. It was a great year for me; I had some tough times and struggles, but these were outnumbered by far with blessings. I usually start the year out with a few resolutions--nothing over the top, just the usual stuff—reactivate and stick to my work out plan (I find I tend to slack off a little over the holidays), eat healthier, go to bed earlier, be more organized, etc. I lead a pretty healthy life and avoid risky behaviors, so I try to use New Years as a chance to refocus and evaluate the impact of healthy habits.

I avoid trying to set far reaching goals that are impractical or unattainable. I’d rather focus on a few mini goals like stepping stones to where I want to be. Since 2005 I have been attending college to become a high school English teacher. My husband and I have counted down the semesters to graduation with each passing year. This year marks a new beginning for me as I complete the final phase of this level of my education and make the transition from student to teacher. I have been granted a new opportunity as I step into the classroom and fill my new role as “student –teacher”. I have the chance to see young minds develop before my eyes, activate imaginations and possibilities, and give dreams that gentle push they need to one day become reality.

Teaching is not a right I am earning by virtue of the degree I will receive in May. Teaching is a privilege; it is a lifestyle and a way of life. This year the new leaf I turn over will be one of discovery in the classroom; an opening of the possibilities that lie before me and my students. I am excited and eager to see young minds in action and hear their unique stories. This year will not be about what “I” can do. Instead, it will be about what “they”, my students, can do.


Some veterans in the field of education might say that my inexperience makes me over confident or that I’ll soon find out what’s really in store when I get there. But I think life experience has value and that I am at the perfect point in my life to begin a teaching career. Everything experienced before now has brought me to this point. I have trained and studied hard. There have been many late nights, long papers, and difficult tests…both the written kind and the kind you cannot see. I place a high value on education as well. I have seen the impact of an education and the lack of one on friends and family members. Although he was a smart man, my grandfather could not read or write. But I will be his first grandchild to earn a bachelor’s degree. Surely I am where I am today, in part, because a teacher, -- especially a few college professors-- believed in me. These are not just words, but truth. I intend to lead by the example set before me and I believe in my students. I am grateful for the privilege to teach and learn in 2010. I cannot wait to see what wonders lie ahead.