Valentine's Day Surprise

It had been a long and exhausting day. I went to my mailbox on that overcast late afternoon in the waning winter of 2013. Picked up a jumble of letters and started walking back inside my home. I flipped through the assortment. It was just ordinary stuff. With one exception.

Something in that handful of sterile letters stood out. Not a bill. Wasn't junk mail. It was an envelope with the name Janet Deal staring back at me. With proper cursive writing. My sixth-grade teacher from the happy-go-lucky days at Foreman Elementary School in Hobart, Indiana.

I hadn't communicated with her for decades. A surge of excitement rushed through me. I plopped down on the couch and immediately ripped open the letter. It was thrilling to hear from her after all those years had vanished at light speed. And since wanderlust guided me to Go West, young man.

Just weeks earlier; I had sent her a letter. I searched online to find an address for Janet and Charlie Deal in my hometown. I found one. But wasn't sure if it was outdated. I rolled the dice. Took a chance. Sending a package to her anyway.

Then the anxious part. Radio silence. Kind of like sending a satellite around the dark side of the moon. Waiting. Hoping. To get any signal. That she did get my message.

On that glorious day the signal came through. It was heartwarming to get it. Mrs. Deal had been one of my favorite teachers. That year of learning and discovery with her was truly the bee's knees.

The whole idea to reach out to her began as I was rummaging through some of the faded bankers boxes in my storage area the previous month. I was searching for some dreary tax documents on that mission.

Instead I stumbled upon a dusty colorful poetry book I created during the school year of 1981. Way back during the Reagan Presidency. It brought back countless gleeful memories.

While sitting on the cold concrete slab paging through those hibernating haikus; it occurred. An Ah-Ha moment inside a storage room safeguarding hidden treasures. I would make a duplicate copy of my poetic opus. And send it to this retired educator who made a difference in my life.

I wanted to let her know that she helped me become who I am today. Those four grading periods with her inspired me greatly. Fostering a creative (Oscar) wild side to this guy. Over the years I've produced over 200 short stories.

What makes this even more beautiful is a particular precious detail shared in that letter back to me. She said my gift to her arrived on...of all days...Valentine's Day.

She recounted how she and her husband Charlie stopped everything they were doing that morning. It had been cleaning day at their household. They put aside the mop, rubber gloves, and Pine-Sol. Reading every page of that volume of verses on the spot. It brought tears to her eyes.

We've stayed in touch. I mail several letters each year to Janet and Charlie. Enclosing each time one of the short stories created by this weathered wordsmith.

Mrs. Deal warmly reciprocates. I've been receiving cherished correspondence from her. She lets me know how proud she is of me. And my writing. She looks forward to receiving my articles. I keep 'em heading in that direction. Who am I to disappoint?

Sometimes we wait too long to let people know how we feel about them. How much they matter in our lives. Then. And today. I didn't let that happen. I took a chance and reached out. No regrets will I have.

Here is a timeless bond between a student and teacher. This year marks the 40th anniversary of when I graduated from Mrs. Deal's class. That bond will stay with us throughout our lives...and beyond. The poetry book is quite simply a symbol of eternal love. Happy Valentine's Day!

This piece of schoolhouse rock is brought to you by that guy clapping erasers. That guy chalking up memories on the blackboard is Ron Blake and he can be found wandering the hallways of yore at rblake5551@hotmail.com.

About the Author

Ron Blake Ron Blake is an artist and writer born in Gary, Indiana and raised with four siblings in the Chicago suburbs. Blake graduated with an MPA from Indiana University. He is a proud honorary Pennsylvanian contributing articles for Erie Gay News since the Obama Presidency. Also contributing articles and Op-Ed pieces for numerous LGBT publications as well as for USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, and Austin American-Statesman. He now resides in sunny Phoenix, Arizona. Instagram, Ron Blake (@blakelateshow) | TikTok, Ron Blake | LinkedIn