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I can
still remember her friendly smile and willing, helpful
manner. She was a sweet girl, with a pretty face and a good
heart. When she first walked into my teaching office, she
was a little hesitant but very outgoing. She wanted to know
if she could be my new assistant. I had met Andy in a few
of my courses, but she was primarily an education major, and
I was an English professor. My English major assistant had
just been forced to quit his assistant position because he
was overloaded with courses and activities.
There
was just something about her eagerness to help that was
captivating, and I told her we could try her out in the
position, but first I would have to clear the appointment
with the department head and the appropriate administrative
office.
She was
ever-ready to do the grunge work of filing papers, weeding
publisher's catalogs, and checking over student rewrites
based on my first evaluation of their composition. She also
willingly came to the office during her free time to talk
with freshmen waiting for appointments and to spread
friendliness and caring.
Some
readers might not be aware of how unusual her helpfulness
was. College students are at the age when they are pressed
with many personal problems, adjustments to coming
independence and maturity, and hours of grueling study and
extra-curricular activities. While some students are
slightly stressed and chronically busy, others opt for the
party and just-get-by routine. Late hours and busy
schedules do not lend themselves to personal ease and time
for friendly "extras."
While
Andy had her personal concerns and problems, she never
carried these into class time or work sessions. As I came
to know her, I realized that she was hoping to be engaged by
Christmas to a young man who had graduated from the college
in last spring's class. Further pressure had been applied
to this situation because the young man was facing military
duty with the possibility of serving in VietNam.
As the
year progressed, Andy developed into a fine assistant and a
good friend. We were both delighted when she got her ring
for Christmas...and later when we found out that her young
man was to be stationed in the States, at least for the time
being. As the spring months passed, she worked hard, hoped
hard, and prayed even harder. She was looking forward to a
June wedding.
While
she had never pledged a sorority, one of the groups gave her
a shower, and when I was invited, I was anxious to give her
useful gifts that she could cherish as well as a few
frivolous, fun items. We all laughed and talked and enjoyed
our evening together, and during the final month of the
college year, I took her on several after-class outings--to
share meals or a movie. While she was a good companion and
always friendly, she maintained a respectful attitude about
our relationship and was ever considerate of professional
concerns. She was full of fun and laughter, and she
reminded me of the line from the old song about being
"younger than springtime."
I was
delighted to hear later that she had married and was
beginning to teach. Even though I had returned to Graduate
Studies, she wrote me several times, sharing news and just
being the same friendly person I had come to know and love.
I got very embroiled in my own life changes and career moves
and eventually lost touch with her, but I have always been
blessed by knowing her and by the memories I cherish of that
time.
Her
last name was Lamb, prior to marriage; and I have always
privately thought that if she had been a little younger, or
perhaps a grade-school student, I would certainly have
remembered her as Mary's "little lamb."
(c)2005
Mary-Ellen Grisham
meginrose@charter.net
Mary-Ellen has recently published a Christian book entitled
GRACE NOTES. It is available through the Xulon Publishers
online bookstore:
http://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/titles/1597814938.htm |
