someone thinks i'm special

The town I teach in is a dying town -- not quite dead, but on it's way out. At one point I think it was a pretty hopping place, but due to economic hardships from years past, it's lost it's spark. Kind of like an old Vega Showgirl in her 50's and 60's. They still try to be fancy, but there's no spark left.

However, there are a few little placed that hold on and make Elyria a sometimes-still-charming town. Puffers Florist is one of them.

I've dealt with Puffers before when I had to order flowers for Senior night last year for the swim team. They're pleasant, older people who love what they do. [The same can be said for the local shop, Action Wear, where we buy our team suits from, where they also sell all things dance-apparel, and clown noses, and tap shoes, and toupee glue, and cat tails, and belly dancing outfits. But that's a story for another time.]

Puffers is located on a street in Elyria I don't often travel down. If I'm going to Subway, I pass it, but that's just about once a quarter. Apparently, Puffers loves Elyria so much that they sponsor a Teacher of the Week/Month (I'm not clear on the details?!) for the local teachers. The Teacher of the Week has their name on the marquee, and receives 6 free roses!

Imagine my surprise when one of my coworkers tells me that I'm Teacher of the Week! I felt so honored! A little later in the day one of my students from last year asked me how I spell my first name. I was reluctant to tell him (for fear he would "friend" me on Facebook?!) and he said "Because I think you're Teacher of the Week at Puffers!" He was so excited about it. I told him that yes, that was in fact me.

Now, I'm pretty sure that the only requirement to win this prestigious award is being employed in the district, but I was tickled nonetheless. I told this factoid to my former student, to which he replied (bless his soul): "Well Miss J, I think you deserve it under any circumstances."

Thanks Kyle Comfort and thanks Puffers! Someone thinks I'm special!