8 September 2001
Subject: Grandparents Day
Dear Ones,
Tomorrow is Grandparents Day on the
calendar, but our local elementary school celebrated it yesterday by having
the students invite their grandparents to the school for a breakfast meal and
a program. Leavon and I attended and had a wonderful time. That
reminded me of what happened a couple of years ago at the same event. But
first, let me set the stage for my story.
As the elected School Board Member
from this District, I was always invited to the school "Honors"
assembly to pass out certificates to those students making Banner Roll and
Honor Roll for each six weeks period. I relished that part of "my
job" as it gave me a chance to interact with the children. Invariably, it
meant that I would get a hug from the little girls and a "high five"
from the boys.
One little African-American girl
named Savannah Fontenot was always making top grades in her class, so I was
able to frequently see and get lots of hugs from Savannah. She was pretty as a
picture.... and one of my "favorites".
One day a couple of years ago,
Savannah's mother called Leavon and said that Savannah wanted us to be
her grandparents at the upcoming Grandparents Day Breakfast at the school. The
mother went on to explain that Savannah had lost two grandparents earlier in
the year and wanted to "adopt" us for the upcoming occasion. We
were honored to be asked and readily accepted. Savannah's mother said Savannah
would meet us at the school.
Leavon and I arrived at the school
parking lot at the same time as several other white grandparents. As we all
walked together up the sidewalk to the school entrance, one of the other
ladies knowing that Leavon and I were NOT grandparents asked what we were
doing there that day. As serious as could be, I told her we were there because
my granddaughter had invited us. Taken aback, she said, "I didn't know
you had a granddaughter." I said, "I sure do and here she comes to
meet me, now." With that, Savannah ran down the sidewalk to greet us and
gave me a great big hug. I wish you could have seen the surprised look on that
lady's face. I wondered if it was a reflection of sixty plus years of Southern
racist and prejudiced tradition in her heart.
Seeing the gosh-awful look I
prompted on that lady's face made my day.... well, almost made my day. What
really made my day was the look on Savannah's face as she proudly strode into
a cafeteria filled with people hand-in-hand with her adopted grandparents.
Leavon brought a little gift for
Savannah on Grandparents Day.... a newly-minted American Eagle Silver Dollar.
Savannah reciprocated by giving us a small present which we cherish to
this day. It was a small, magnetic angel which we still have adorning the
front of our refrigerator..... a black angel.
Have a great Saturday and, if you
are a grandparent, have a happy Grandparents Day..... and may an angel always
reside with you.
Don
P. S. We were honored that Savannah
called again this year to invite us to her school's celebration of
Grandparents Day. She is in Junior High this year.... and is as beautiful as
any angel could be.
Savannah
School Days