My heart is overflowing
After two days of walking down memory lane, my heart is overflowing. Monday was the first Adairsville Elementary School Field Day I attended after my retirement, in which I did not know any of the elementary students. It made me sad that my last group of kindergarteners are all grown up. They are already finishing up their sixth-grade year at Adairsville Middle School. Not knowing the participants, though, gave me more time to visit with middle and high schoolers, teachers, other staff members, parents, and grandparents, who were there to help or to watch someone they love take part in the best day of the school year. Many wore shirts that said, “small town, Big Pride;” a perfect community motto for the town I have grown to love. What a joy it was to reconnect and take pictures with my people.
Tuesday night was graduation for the class of 2024—the class who were finishing up their sixth-grade year when I retired in 2018. Most of them have grown a foot or two since I last saw them. Some I follow on Instagram, or have seen at basketball games, or around town, so I recognized them when I saw them on the football field after the ceremony. Some looked like a big sister or big brother of the fifth graders I taught, but others changed so much I had to ask their names. Several had so many honors cords around their necks, I’m sure they will need a massage after carrying the weight for so many hours. I could not be prouder of this group. What a joy it was to see them on such a memorable occasion. They will represent Adairsville well whether they leave or come back home, as the Salutatorian suggested.
The Salutatorian spoke of the class never being together like this again and encouraged her classmates to leave as friends, as an Adairsville class of 2024 family. When she reiterated a common phrase, “once a Tiger, always a Tiger” I felt the love. Thirty-six years ago, this community captured my heart. Through the years, they have embraced me as their own and made me feel as welcome as those who were born and raised here.
The Valedictorian used Tennyson’s poem, Ulysses, that begins “I am part of all that I have met . . .” her mother and her grandmother used in their Adairsville High School valedictorian speeches. Having taught her mother when she was a sixth grader my first year here in 1988-89, I beamed with pride. What amazing families come from Adairsville, I thought. So many successful graduates, whom I had the honor of teaching when they were young and impressionable, flooded my mind.
On the field, I hugged dozens of former students and their parents, yet missed seeing so many more. One student from that same first class of 1988 surprised me on the field. She popped up in front of me in her black robe with adorable short blonde hair and asked if I remembered her. I stared at her for the longest as she gave me hints until I finally made the connection. I vaguely remembered hearing she was teaching at the high school, but it still blew me away to see her standing in front of me. The last time I had seen her, she wore her hair to her waist. Now she says she has her specialist’s degree and has been teaching at the high school for 20 years. How did that happen? I must have blinked.
The final former student I connected with made my already full heart nearly explode. I had him for his fifth and sixth-grade years and later taught his son, standing nearby in his green gown, and his middle children. When I told him I was traveling and writing about my travels, he said to let him know when I finished my book, Finding Joy. He would absolutely be at my book launch. When the teacher mentioned she had heard that I got baptized in Florida, he inquired. I shared my story. He hugged me and asked if he could pray for me. Right there on the football field, one of my former students prayed the most beautiful prayer anyone has ever prayed for me as the teacher and I bowed our heads. Who does that? Well, I guess Adairsville people do that. That’s what they call family. I never needed to leave home to find joy. And that’s why my heart is overflowing.
May 23, 2024 @ 5:31 pm
Joy
Such a beautiful written story. The way you go in detail to describe things made be feel you were talking about my old school Red Bud. Here in this part of Ga we are family. Some of my very best memories come from that family. You haven’t told me about your Salvation but I’ll be aware and listen. Prayer is the forefront of our lives. Even though it is a personal thing. But don’t you fill alive now? All this energy and love? to be in the hands of our great creator and knowing he will never forsake you but love you forever is a special gift one can’t get over. Has it really been that many years ? You’re one of the most inspiring women I have had the privilege of being the friend and neighbor of. You try to put positive in front of all. If one speaks negative, you just walk away. You always surprise me in the things you do. So keep writing cause I’m having fun in Finding Joy! Love this!!
May 23, 2024 @ 6:48 pm
Thanks Sophia.
May 23, 2024 @ 7:46 pm
Just Wow!
I truly feel the love that you have for Adairsville. You were blessed to have so many wonderful people in your life!
May 23, 2024 @ 8:44 pm
Thanks, Amy. Yes. I am truly blessed. Adairsville is full of great people.
May 23, 2024 @ 8:14 pm
What a beautiful time for you! Your writing makes it easy to imagine that I am standing right there with you enjoying the moments, too. Have you set a date/time/place for the book launch? Your friend, Vickie
May 23, 2024 @ 8:48 pm
Thanks, Vickie. That means a lot to me.
Not yet, but hopefully somewhere in Calhoun AND Adairsville. I’m open to venue ideas.
May 24, 2024 @ 1:04 am
Joy, now you know how I feel when I get together with that little 6 year old I met so many years ago when I came home with your sister and became an adopted part of the Walker family–always a joy to see you and so proud of who you’ve grown to be and your accomplishments!
Love you,
Debbie Joy
(we even share a name.)
🙂
May 24, 2024 @ 12:28 pm
Wow, Debbie! That’s crazy to think that we’ve known each other since I was six. Thanks for the support and your vote of confidence.
May 24, 2024 @ 9:57 pm
Joy, we are happy for you in your finding fulfillment in your teaching history and influencing and shaping lives. It is so satisfying to know that our lives can make a difference and as the Bible says “their works do follow them”. May God continue to work in and through you to be a blessing. We have been impressed by your writing and by your joy of life. Thanks for the email
Mike and Jan
May 25, 2024 @ 3:56 pm
Thanks for your kind words, Mike and Jan. The two of you have certainly added JOY to my life. I’m thankful for our friendship.
May 29, 2024 @ 8:48 pm
Joy, no no that doesn’t sound right to me. Dr. Walker, (yes much better). I hate it I missed you at the Graduation, I would have loved seeing you!! I don’t know if you remember me or not. I had you for PE during my elementary years. I am the oldest of 3 boys (Cooper and Eli Swanson being my younger brothers). Cooper (my middle brother) was graduating that night. I’ve been told by my mom that he (for whatever reason) referred to you as Dr. Seuss while in Kindergarten. Lol
While I was reading this I was flooded with memories of elementary school. You truly have a gift with words. I felt like I was standing right beside you as I read this!! I’d love to know when your book is published! I bet it will be a wonderful read!
I hope you are doing well!
Best wishes on your future journeys. I look forward to reading the stories!
-Landon
May 29, 2024 @ 11:56 pm
Oh, Landon! Of course I remember you! I remember all the Swanson boys. I hate that I missed you guys. There were so many people, we needed a receiving line. Thanks for reading my story and thanks for the complement. Now that you have signed up for my emails, you will be among the first to hear when my book is out. I’m hoping it will be in print in the next 6-12 months. Thanks for your support. I’d love to hear what you are up to now. Email me when you have time. I didn’t remember Cooper calling me Dr. Seuss, but I do know Dr. Walker confused children. Lots of them called me Miss Dr. Walker or Mrs. Dr. Walker–I never understood that one either, but I thought it was cute. Best wishes. Hope to keep in touch.
June 22, 2024 @ 10:25 am
I totally feel the same way about Adairsville! Thirty-three years ago, I interviewed for a job at Adairsville Elementary, where I met you as a PE teacher. It was a joy to stay there my entire career in teaching, where teachers became my family. But like you, I later discovered what a blessing it was to be in this community, where they will pray with you, and we got to teach children of former students. I believe Adairsville is Bartow County’s best kept secret, and yes, “once a tiger, always a tiger”.
June 23, 2024 @ 1:05 am
There’s just something special about our Adairsville family, huh? Never thought about it before, but it’s kind of a half way point between Jacksonville where you grew up and Fort Wayne where I grew up. If not for Adairsville, we may have never met.
Thanks for commenting. Go Tigers!
July 2, 2024 @ 7:23 pm
Seeing you at AES Field Day and hearing of your continued bike travels and your blog and upcoming book made my day. And then when you shared of your surrendering your life completely and being baptized in Florida, it sparked much JOY! You know I could never resist getting you all the JOY merch from myself and my children who you taught! But you truly do emanate joy so you’re well-named. I only regret we didn’t get a picture together. Maybe next time…
Thanks for being such an inspiration and for your friendship over the years. To Him be the Glory in your journey of finding Joy!
July 2, 2024 @ 11:33 pm
Thanks, Angie. I so enjoyed talking with you at Field Day. And I too regret not getting pictures of us together. I was hit or miss that day, and seemed to miss getting pictures of lots of people, but I sure did enjoy the day. Thanks for your support. Hope we can keep in touch, especially as you near retirement.