I recently had the opportunity to attend a banquet honoring those important school workers who work “behind the scenes” as what is referred to now as “School Related Employees.” Although school teachers and administrators are much more in the “spotlight” where schools are concerned, these folks are the ones who often keep a school going.
Many years ago, I was actually a school teacher. I taught music at my old Alma Mater of Taylor County High School, back in the late 1980s. I remember a mentor, who was also my old high school band director, told me there were two groups of people with whom I needed to form a close bond. One was the janitorial staff, and the other was the school bookkeeper. He told me “Those people can make your life much easier than any administrator.” He was very correct about that.
I have to say, thinking back on my life, my very favorite School Related Employee had to have been Mama Patrick. Many of you may remember Mama Patrick (her first name was Ruby) when she was the manager of the lunchroom for the school in Greenville. Back in those days, when Greenville had a high school and elementary school neighboring each other, there was one lunch room, located in the elementary school. Mama Patrick and Aunt Belle (Hutto) both worked in the lunchroom, along with others of the sweetest ladies who ever drew breath in Greenville. In those days, kids who were fortunate to have daily lunches in Greenville had good food prepared by some of the best cooks the town had to offer. Every meal was like dinner at your grandmother’s house. Not only did kids receive a meal, lovingly prepared by real life, honest to goodness grandmothers, kids did not go away hungry, either. I can attest to many times seeing Mama Patrick reach into her purse to cover lunch for a child who may not have had lunch money that day. She always did that quietly, with little attention drawn. I kind of think that’s how Jesus would like for us to take care of one another.
I loved spending time with Mama Patrick, and Papa. It was not unusual for Mama Patrick and Papa to make the trip to Perry on a Friday afternoon so I could ride back to Greenville to stay with them until Sunday. Mama Patrick knew my affinity for Spaghetti-Os, and she would usually prepare a piping hot bowl of the “neat round spaghetti you can eat with a spoon” on those Friday evenings.
Mama Patrick went to her Heavenly reward many years ago after suffering a stroke. Before she passed away, I had the opportunity to visit with her. She was unable to speak, but she could communicate with her eyes. I said to her, “Mama Patrick, guess what I had for supper last night? I had Spaghetti-Os. Do you remember fixing that for me so many times when I was little?” Mama Patrick managed a slight smile on her face and nodded her head.
I do miss Mama Patrick, but much more than that; I am truly thankful for the time I was able to spend with her. I have an old photograph of Mama Patrick and Papa on my desk here at work. I like to think of it as a reminder of their love and the idea that they are still looking over me. If I close my eyes and concentrate, I can even smell Spaghetti-Os heating up in the kitchen.