Puzzles by the Story Teller

Smiles, March 20, 2017

We called her “Tea Bag.” I don’t remember why. She taught biology, was almost as old as I am now, and had a wooden leg. She had been smelling formaldehyde for 30+ years as her classes did the frog and pig dissecting thing year after year. She always had a smile on her face and a gentle word for us. She really seemed to enjoy what she was doing. I would like to tell you we never did anything that should have upset her, but you know that would be a lie. (She was my favorite teacher.)

Two years ago Elaine and I were watching the full moon rise over a field in Harlingen. As it came up I commented about the face of “Man in the Moon.” She sat quietly for a few minutes staring at the moon and then suddenly, with a huge smile on her face, joyfully said “I see it.” All her life (60+ years) she had been told about the face, but that was the first time she had seen it. (Her smile is the one of those things I love the most.)

Each of us are constantly looking into faces. Some bring spontaneous smiles like Elaine’s when she found the face of “The Man in the Moon”. Some are more like Miss Schrickrath’s smile growing out of her daily encounter with the faces her teenage biology students. We all have had teachers who did not smile and acquaintances who rarely smile about anything.

When I have a choice, I prefer to be around the people who smile more.  

Moral – A smile on your face makes a difference in the lives of those around you.