Greater Milwaukee Auto Show

(Photo: The boys, entranced by this Indy race car as it swiveled on the platform at the Greater Milwaukee Auto Show)

We made it to the Auto Show this year at the Frontier Airlines Center. Thanks to Equitable Bank, our donor for the free tickets. March 6th, the last day of the show also happened to be free admission day for children! So off we went: saw old show cars, sat in brand new ones and left with lots of literature that the boys have collected, much to mom's dismay ;o) If you know my boys, then you won't be surprised to see them wide-eyed and going crazy over so many cars. One would think that with all the car shows we go to each year, they'd have enough of cars. Well, not really, especially being able to go inside the newest models was a blast for them.

We stayed there for three hours and covered all three floors of the exhibit. Then we went to Red Lobster for lunch/dinner (Connor called it lunch-er). Before heading home, we stopped by to visit Auntie Evelyn in Hales Corners. Then we finished off the evening gathered around the fireplace and watching the NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Too many cars in one day. I have a headache just thinking about it! :o)

Lea Salonga in "Les Miserables"

Last Saturday, my husband worked overtime doing the pledge breaks during Milwaukee Public Television's Pledge Drive. Before he left the house, he told me that the feature show was going to be "Les Miserables" with my favorite Filipina performer, Lea Salonga. I tuned in expecting to see Lea as the character, Eponine, but much to my surprise, this was the 25th Anniversary performance of "Les Miserables" at the O2 arena in London, not the 10th anniversary. And Lea was not Eponine anymore, but Fantine--Cosett's unfortunate mother. She took on a more mature role since she performed the younger role of Eponine 15 years ago. But her voice was still strong, her performance riveting! The song, "I Dreamed a Dream" was hair-raising. It amazed me how she sounded and almost looked the same all those years gone by.
This performance included the beloved old cast and promising new ones including Samantha Barks (Eponine), Nick Jonas (Marius) of the Jonas Brothers and Katie Hall (Cosette).
After seeing the 25th Anniversary performance, I'm going to look for my 10th Anniversary copy and watch that one. Then I'm on a quest to find the book by Victor Hugo and maybe listen to my copy of "Miss Saigon" which also features no other than Lea Salonga herself. Both "Le Miz" and "Miss Saigon" are produced by non other than British producer, Cameron Mackintosh.
Thanks to my hubby for the heads up. Lea Salonga mode: ON.

A Special Moment in CFM Class

Last night, while the kids were lining up by the door waiting for the dismissal bell to ring, one of my students ran up to me and gave me a very tight hug. I was surprised, at the very least. She held me so tight as if she was not going to let me go. She held me for about ten seconds and I hugged her back. Then she let go with a big smile on her face. Suddenly, it dawned on me. “My Lord, I’m going to have an impact on this child’s life!”

There were times I thought that I’m just teaching kids who really don’t want to be there. I’m just another teacher-type adult in their lives and the only reason they are in my class is to fulfill a requirement in order for them to receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion. Granted, there are a few children who stood out and are very enthusiastic about learning, sometimes I see boredom in those little faces, often asking how much time is left or if CFM is over yet. Most of the times they are wide-eyed with anticipation, with wonder and they look up at you as if you hold a very special secret that you are about to reveal. During those times, it makes all the driving out at night in the snow or cold, worth it.

Maybe I can be one of those teachers that children remember forever like I will never forget my first grade teacher. I can still vividly see her with a stick on her hand (maybe that’s why I can’t forget her especially that I have felt that stick hitting the palm of my hand). But no, I have fond memories of her. These children don’t see me as often as they do their regular first grade teacher but hopefully, some of them will remember me someday.

I never dreamed of becoming a teacher. Being a teacher was never in the list of things I wanted to be when I grow up. I wanted to be a policewoman, a nurse, a writer, a politician but never a teacher. Maybe because my mom was a teacher—I don’t know. But here I am, teaching a group of first graders who, more often than not, at the end of the day, makes me feel fulfilled, like I had done something worthwhile and special. That little girl giving me a hug out of nowhere just made me feel ten times that.