Earlier in the week I reached out to one of Cari’s former students. One of the handful of girls (and boys) she taught maybe 6 years ago that she still kept in touch with. One of the students she touched in such a way that they still communicated years later. Why she didn’t continue on at that school is beyond me … but not beyond the politics of Chicago Public Schools.
Nevertheless, these girls looked up to Cari. I randomly decided to reach out to them to let them know we created some wristbands in Cari’s memory. They jumped on the opportunity to get some. I told them to let me know that if any of their friends wanted some to let me know. They came back with a request for a dozen+. A dozen+ people who cared for Cari. A dozen+ people from the 1 year she spent with them.
So I met the girls this evening at the in-laws when I picked up the kids. Besides giving them the wristbands it gave them the chance to interact with our kids. It took E her usual time to warm up but as soon as she did they became best friends. C smiled up a storm as soon as he saw them. E is pretty funny. She was talking to me before they appeared from around a car. As soon as she saw them she zippered up. I think the chalk finally got her going but I was initially unsuccessful with things like bubbles and her dolls. I guess you never know what it’s going to take to get her to open up. I told the girls they should have brought some french fries. French fries almost always do the trick.