In this season of gratitude, coming out from the fog of a Thanksgiving
caloric coma, I thought I'd share what I call a humbling "little/big" teaching
moment. The place was the Marcum Conference Center on the campus of Miami of
Ohio. The occasion was the Lilly Conference on College Teaching held during
the weekend before Thanksgiving. The time was Friday morning (11/22), about 6
am. I had come downstairs into the lobby area for some coffee and a newspaper.
Two of the Center's kitchen staff were putting out the coffee. With a smile, I
said to them, "Good morning. How are you doing this 'brrrrr' day?" They
turned towards me and stopped what they were doing. One of them replied with a
smile, "You weren't here last year. We missed you. Glad to see you made this
year." Then, they came over and gave me a hug. I stood there, floored.
Stunned. Deeply touched. Almost teary eyed. All I could muster at the moment
was a quiet and deeply sincere, "Thank you."
Think about it. I did, and still do. The staff! The kitchen staff
that makes momentary unnoticed appearances amid the crowd of attendees to
replenish the knosh tables! Noticed my absence a year ago! Missed me! Were
glad to see me! Of all that happened at Lilly this year, and a lot happened,
nothing touched me more than this.
The next morning, still feeling both grateful and humbled, I asked
these people how was it that with over 600 people at the conference last year
they noticed I wasn't present and remembered me a year later--two years since
they had seen me--enough to say something the first time they saw me. I
scribbled down their answers when I got back to my room. What do you think
they said?
Make it a good day
-Louis-
Louis Schmier
http://www.therandomthoughts.edublogs.org
203 E. Brookwood Pl http://www.therandomthoughts.com
Valdosta, Ga 31602
(C) 229-630-0821 /\ /\ /\ /\
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//\/\/ /\ \__/__/_/\_\/
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/\"If you want to climb
mountains,\ /\
_ / \ don't practice on mole
hills" - / \_
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