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The Best Mistake

I recently wanted to get a pedicure (I promise this will be important) and was looking at nail salons nearby. I knew there was a place called Kim's Nails near my exercise class, so I quickly googled to see if I could make an appointment online (I hate calling on the phone) and it let me, so I made an appointment for a few days later and went on with my day. Later that day, I got a text confirming my appointment and I realized that I had made the appointment at the wrong Kim's Nails! I meant to make an appointment for the one in my city and I made one at a nail shop in the next city over (Kim's Nails is a common business name). Because I had already made the appointment and they had taken the time to text me, I figured I'd just go with it.

OK, if you're still with me, this is where it gets exciting!

A few hours after I got the confirmation text, the owner of Kim's Nails texted me again. the text just said, "Are you a teacher?" I didn't know why they were asking, but I said yes. The next message asked me if I knew DL [those are his initials, she obviously said his name] and then said, "He is my brother and said you were his first grade teacher!"

It turns out that DL was helping his sister, the owner of my mistaken nail shop, work on her scheduling software, and saw my name, which is, well, distinctive. I answered that YES I was his teacher (first and third grade both) and to please pass along my phone number! I went to the pedicure and DL came to meet me and we talked for well over an hour catching up. He is still the awesome person I knew as a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old, just grown up. 

This is the best scheduling mistake I've ever made!

DL had a friend, KL, who was in the same first grade class. They were best friends, had the same last name, told me they were cousins, and were always going to each other's houses. We got to briefly reconnect in 2016 at my book launch, when I found out that they weren't cousins and they thought it was hilarious that I believed them (I had no reason not to!). In 2016 I think they were both in college but we didn't get to talk much and lost touch again.

So I asked DL if he was still in touch with KL and he said that yes, they're still very close and that he's actually the godfather of KL's son. We all got on a text thread and KL sent me a picture of his son. If I hadn't known better, I would have said it was him from our first-grade year, the child looks so much like his father!

The three of us had lunch last month and caught up more and it was amazing. When you're a teacher, you never know if you're going to find out how your "kids" are going to turn out. It's not often you get to see those students, those little kids, all grown up. I couldn't be happier with the adults they turned out to be. I loved hearing what they were up to, who and what mattered to them, and what their hopes are for the future.

They're not "my kids" anymore; none of them are. They're my peers, and that's even better in some ways. I hope to spend more time with these guys and others (more blogs coming soon about some other reunions!) if it's not too strange for them to hang out with their elementary school teacher.


Comments

Anonymous said…
Hi,
Your blog is heartwarming. You are a role model for how I wish all teachers would be. These young children, from shaky childhoods not of their making, were fortunate to be in your class. You cared about them, and they knew it. That’s why Fred was successful in your classroom. That’s why your former students want to hang out with you. You have nurtured many, and are much loved, and thought of fondly by your former students. If only all teachers cared the way you do. It would have a positive impact on our society. Bless you for being you!
7:41 AM
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