Mrs. Gagliardi: The woman who was my second mother. Thank you for being such a great voice in my life, a voice of comfort, humor, wisdom, and direction. For those who don't know, Mrs. Gagliardi was my middle school music teacher. I have never, ever encountered a woman who has had the power to captivate a group of kids into learning the way she did. We've all been through middle school, we all know how unmotivated kids are at that age (especially in today's world) to do enriching things in school, but she never took it as an answer to not have kids do well in her classes or in chorus. She brought out the bigger person in me and made me express myself through leadership, making my own decisions, and during school productions in drama or chorus concerts. For 2 whole years I ate my lunch in her classroom with my friends and companions, I cried so many times in that room, happy and sad tears, I've made friends, I've lost friends, I laughed, I loved, and most of all, I was able to spend all of that time with one of the most meaningful people in my life; Mrs. Gagliardi. Thank you for building me up to who I am today.
Joe Garrison: I've written about Joe in blog posts before. He is my youth leader (the short guy who was in charge of a bunch of teenagers in Nashville, remember?) and sadly, he is leaving in a literal matter of days to move to Massachusetts to finish his schooling, and most likely will be a pastor with his own church at the end of it. I started out going to youth group at the church he worked at nearly 4 years ago when I was in the 6th grade with a friend I had made in elementary school. At first, it was just a way to hang out with my friends a night or two every week. As I got older and started to become more involved in youth group and my faith, I realized how much Joe has impacted me in growing up. You can see it in the faces of everyone at church and all the kids in youth group how much they love him. He's a person that you look at and wonder how it's even possible for them to mean so much to such a HUGE group of people. So Josephine, if you're reading this, thank you for helping shape me into the person I am today. I really didn't go to church that much in my early years, and I also had a parent that didn't go to church at all. Thanks for "planting the seeds" in my faith, as we've talked about so much the past few months. I honestly don't know where I'd be sometimes in my faith if it wasn't from studying with you. Congratulations to you and Ashley, and I hope you have a wonderful time up in Massachusetts starting fresh up there. It's gonna be weird to come back and not have you screaming my name at me as I get out of my car and walk into the church. But hey, everyone comes back after a while. Arrivederci, my brotha.
Literally the closest thing to a picture of him and I that exists.
Mr. Novakoski: (Mr. Nova was my 8th grade algebra teacher) Oh my goodness, you are one of the most unique people I have ever encountered. Eighth grade was my favorite year of my life (so far) because of so many different reasons, and of course, it isn't a shock that you were one of them. I'll be honest with you, I hate math to a degree so high that there is nothing that could ever make me change my mind, but being in your period two "power row" made it so much more fun than any other teacher has ever made it. Not only did you completely prepare me for high school and enlighten my 8:54 to 9:31 time slot 5 times a week, but you also were my "Brother of Rock" in a rock band. (Uh, yes. He's just that cool). It was an honor to jam with you on numerous occasions, and even get to sing your song. Thank you for not being normal. Because normal is just weird. Prepare yourself, because sometime in the next 20 years or so, I will have a wedding that you will be DJ'ing. Oh, and by the way, I've been meaning to tell you. I will be spreading the NovaMagic hands internationally this year. (: Keep the munchkin parade under control!
Tawn Battiste (or Mrs. B, whatever is more suitable): When I was in the fifth grade, we started switching classes to get us prepared for middle school the following year. Even though I was not in Mrs. B's homeroom class, I was in her English class first thing every morning. Of course I am able to say how she made learning fun and was absolutely hysterical, plus was one of the nicest people I have ever met. All of which is 120% true, but I am still friends with her to this day. Most elementary age teachers sorta move on once you're out of their class, at least to me they do. Mrs. Battiste has stayed active in my life, inviting me over to do RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) days to make cake pops, pool sitting for us when we lived at our old house, and just being the definition of a caring, hospitable person. I remember when I was in her class and for a "my role model" writing, I wrote about Rosa Parks (don't ask me, I still don't know why to this day). But now, I'm pretty sure I could write it about her. She is always there, and always will be there; to have a person that you just know will do that for you is a blessing in itself! Thank you, Mrs. Battiste, for all that you do and have done for my family and I!
Rebecca Hess: Mrs. Hess, or as I know her as Miss Becky, is the founder of the community choir(s) that I mention from time to time on entries. She started the first choir, originally Southern Lancaster County Children's Choir that is now called the "Solfege Singers", when I was in the fifth grade and I joined it the first year. Fast forward to now, five years later, and there are now two choirs, Solfege and an adult choir called "Crescendo", that I would be a part of if I wasn't going to Italy. I've never really touched on this with her before, so here it goes. I honestly can not thank you enough for bringing such awesome things out of the past 5 years; some of the best friends I've ever had, my love for music, and sharing memories that I still laugh about and think about to this day. Solfege is the only thing I can think of that honestly saw me through all the stages of my life. I went in as this awkward child, not really knowing what to do with herself or what to expect of her future, to the future pastry chef that loved 70's bands, to the marine biologist who's closet was basically plaid shirts and nothing else, to the motivated and multitasking person that never really shut up around her friends, the girl who managed to get sick at every concert that ever was, the girl who laughed at her own jokes (and still does to this day), and now, to the girl who is going somewhere in life, but doesn't really know where, but she knows it's good. You've watched me grow and motivated me throughout the last 5 years, and just being a darn good friend to me. I will forever and always be a hoarder of newspaper clippings and memories from this choir, and I will never not be a part of SLCCC. Like the song says, this shall be for music, even if no one else can hear it. No matter where you go in life, the people closest to you will always be with you in some way. The "broad road that stretches" is headed to Italy for me.
Meemaw: This is probably the hardest one for me to write, yet the biggest one. Meemaw was what I called my grandmother on my mom's side. It's hard to believe that she has been gone for over eight months now, but I know that she is more proud than ever. You ask about impacts and life lessons that you have been taught in your life, and I'm pretty sure that Meemaw has taught me more indirect lessons of how to live than anyone else. Love unconditionally, live how you want to live, don't take no for an answer, do what you want when you want it and don't let anyone tell you otherwise, there's always a way to make someone happy, and take pleasure in the smallest things in life, she definitely lived her life to the fullest. Being her granddaughter was the biggest blessing I ever could have asked for and more. If you knew her and say that she didn't make you smile and be filled with warmth and joy, I'm pretty sure that you're lying. There wasn't a single person on the planet that she would turn away from, and to the day that she died she loved everyone. She lived the life. The life. The one that you read about in quotes and books and on tombstones. Even though this is a temporary home for all of us, she made it the best it could be for her. That's the kind of thing that makes you wonder why so many people are unhappy with what they have, and why they can't just enjoy what life has given them. Meemaw, thank you for being you. There's really no better way to put it.
Thank you.
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