Wednesday, March 26, 2008

One of my treasures...


This 'love note' was made for me not too long after I became an art teacher in Oklahoma in the 1980's. This was the only time that this little 3rd grade boy wrote me a note.. he brought it up to me and beaming the biggest smile he could manage.. said in his southern drawl, "Ms. Hand, I made this for you."

He was a full-fledged eight year old Oklahoma cowboy who happened to have a younger sister and female cousin who wore pigtails and boots. When you read what he has written- you'll know that for a little cowboy.. he has paid me the highest compliment that he could. It is a message of pure love and is so treasured that when I evacuated from the eruption of the volcano, Mt. Pinatubo, at my first overseas teaching assignment in the Philippines- I took my important papers, 3 days worth of clothing, the quilt my grandmother had made me, and this framed message with me.


The bittersweet part? His grandmother was a teacher at the same school that I was teaching at in Oklahoma. At lunch, I proudly showed the note that he had written to her. Her only comment? She pursed her lips tightly and said, "He is a terrible speller."

Personally, I think she was just jealous that he wrote it for me and not for her. :D

Here's the translation:

Dear Miss Hand,
Even though you don't wear ponytails and you don't wear boots,
you still are a country girl. I think you are a country girl.

Love,
Jayme
Buck

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is the sweetest note. I would hold onto it forever.

Unknown said...

well...just....awwwwwww !

susanc said...

Very sweet!

iwouldratherbeknitting said...

Thank you.. it is indeed one of my treasures and isn't that what a treasure is.. something with such value that it can't be measured?

Unknown said...

LOL!! Too cute!!!

2soonOld2lateSmart said...

I'm an Oklahoma grandma, and most of the boys aren't that observant, older ones too. Shame on his granny. He is a special one, and thanks for sharing that. Wonder where he is now?

iwouldratherbeknitting said...

2soon..

He was 8 years old at the time and the note was probably written in 1985? or there about..

I'm sure he's still in the same area- his other family members were all in the area.

It really was a sweet gesture on his part.. he was a boy of few words. :D