Precious Moments

I worked in the 2nd Grade as a Teacher Assistant when my kids went to Elementary school. They also went to the school I worked at. It was the best Gig ever. I learned so much from the Special Teacher I worked with. "Dorothy Conry" had MS, but didn't let it stand in her way of being the best teacher she could be. She rode around in a "Putt Putt" as she called it, when her legs would not work. The kids thought this was awesome to have a teacher with such a special ride. I created all of her bulletin boards and walked around helping each child with their cursive writing and different activities. I also took reading groups to the Library and walked the class to their special classes. I was her legs and I was proud to be able to help her. She was in her early 40's when diagnosed with this horrible, crippling disease. Her husband left her. She had a son who would also abandon her later on. I had never in my life met a more positive person. I so admired her. She was in my Bunco Club with some other Teacher Assistants. She had a Precious Moments collection and a special Precious Moments Christmas tree that she kept up year round. We always loved meeting at her apartment for Bunco because we got to admire her tree, loaded down with her special ornaments.

She eventually had to take a medical retirement when the MS got so bad. She moved into a nursing home. She recently passed away from the MS and she had started to develop Alzheimer's. It was a sad day when I got the call that she had passed away. I went to her viewing along with a former Teacher Assistant.

Weeks later, I received a box in the mail from her sister-in-law. It was 2 Precious Moments ornaments with a special card. She said that when she was going thru Dorothy's belongings she came across a note with my name on it with some other names and it was in her box of Precious Moments ornaments. She knew Dorothy had wanted to make sure her special friends received her special ornaments to remember her by, so she mailed out 2 to each person on the list. I was so overwhelmed with emotion when I opened the box. It was just like Dorothy to be so organized and making sure her Precious Moments would carry on their special meaning. I will make sure that when I hang them on my tree this year, they will hang in the very front, so when I see them, I will remember my Precious Co-worker, mentor, teacher, but most of all, my friend. A Precious Moment I will keep in my heart forever. R.I.P sweet friend.