Ryan, Teddie Sue 

posted 4 weeks ago August 29, 2017

Ryan.

It pains me to admit it, but apparently, I have passed away. Everyone told me it would happen one day but that's simply not something I wanted to hear, much less experience. Once again I didn't get things my way! That's been the story of my life all my life, although Skip would probably disagree.

     And while on that subject (the story of my life)… On the subject of my life, my mother, Helen Harrelson was years ahead of her time by negotiating for a new home in Chicago in exchange for having a child, Teddie Sue, me. I can't believe that happened in the middle half of the last century but there are records on file which can corroborate this claim. I was born on March 16, 1956 and Helen Bernice got her new life away from Arkansas farming, no more picking and chopping cotton. Memories…where do I begin?

      I was the oldest and consequently, my younger sister Rebekah Kay very much enjoyed her childhood, as she never had chores, all left to me to be responsible.  Oh and I was, but not enough time to talk about all that! As a child of the 60’s, I walked to school, Barry Elementary and yes, it was a mile to school and back through the inclimate weather! Some how while at Commodore John Barry Elem, I decided I would be a teacher some day.  It is written in our 8^th grade paper, heck if I really planned on that, but it is what I did for 32 years and loved so much of being around young people.

      At home is where I learned the lessons from my mother and father that gave me the path in life I followed. Dad was a big-hearted soul who gave to others freely. He carted us kids everywhere, caught us doing whatever it was we shouldn’t be doing and thus became affectionately known as Hawkeye. My mother was strong and present.  Both of them allowed me to be myself, oh I was disciplined, but I was loved.

      So many things in my life seemed of little significance at the time; they happened, but they added up greater importance as a coat of many colors and a tapestry rich and golden. The memories I have are so precious, and it was a good life.  Memories where do I begin?

      Well, I remember attending church; Mom and Dad sitting together; Leonard leading singing. I remember loving dancing, singing to 45’s, 33’s, The Beatles; I remember Dad driving Old Bessie, raising a garden every summer; and off to Arkansas, at the drop of dad words, “Let’s go home babe.”  There were my wonderful Grandparents, Uncle Eugene and Aunt Sissie to add spice to my being.  My grandparent’s unconditional love and pioneer spirit, Uncle Eugene’s love of music and Aunt Sissie’s love of road.

      I was blessed with seeing the world as very few did with my time in Montana. There I was blessed with my only child, Dane Lucas.  Life became about being the best mother I could be, and eventually the best teacher for the children that passed through my classroom. Seeing my son grow into who he was supposed to be brought a wonderful sense of meaning to my life as a mom.  His love and care for others, his perseverance and hard work ethics, his joy of laughing and making sure others had a great time. Having students graduate with a sense of purpose gave that extra meaning to being here.

      In my life I became the Grand Diva of All Things Domestic and Then Some. Sewing Halloween costumes, counted cross-stitch needlework, weaving baskets, making potpourri, painting with oil on canvas, Colorado Master Gardener, driving a tractor and learning to repair it. Carrying a chainsaw, peeling logs, planting a large garden and orchard, canning jellies, jam,  drying fruit and tomatoes, raising pets, litters of puppies, and farm animals, these were some of the outlets for my creativity that let my spirit sing.

    I loved growing up in Chicago; I loved the mountains of Montana and Colorado, our home at Hard Rock Acres. The road running just out front was a dirt road that ran down to McQueen forest Preserve Road where Dane learned to drive, another significant dirt road to Polebridge was 60 miles long into another world, time and place. I never grew tired of the ever changing clouds over the Great Divide, the changing of the seasons and beginning of new life.  Speaking of that, before I grow too old, I still hope to become a grandmother.

      I've been a devoted daughter that still misses her parents, an energetic teenager called Gypsy, a person ready for adventure, heck I hitch hiked across Alaska.  I was a comforting mother, a true and loyal friend to those that opened their hearts. And if you don't believe it, just ask me. Oh wait, I'm afraid it's too late for questions. Sorry, I was born; I blinked; and it was over. No buildings named after me; no monuments erected in my honor.  I left behind gardens wherever I was and I did have the chance to know and love each and every friend as well as all my family members. How much more blessed can a person be?

     So in the end, remember, do your best, follow your road less traveled, and make something amazing out of your life, and for those around you. If you want to, you can look for me in the evening sunset or with the earliest spring wildflowers, or amongst the flitting and fluttering birds and butterflies. You know I'll be there in one form or another. Of course that will probably comfort some while antagonizing others, but you know me...it's what I do.

    This might be a place and time to mend fences. I apologize for making Dane take music lessons in 5^th grade, as he really didn’t want to.  I apologize to Skip for asking him to leave God’s country to follow my need to be a mom and grandmother.  I apologize to Ashley for being a mom that needed more, it was never enough time with my family.

     Remember, most lives are not distinguished by great achievements that get written up in the history books.  Most are measured by an infinite number of small ones.  Each time you do a kindness for someone or bring a smile to their face, it give you life meaning.  Never doubt your value.

     I'll leave you with this, please don't cry because I'm gone; instead be happy that I was here, or maybe you can cry a little bit in case God let’s us have a view of things left behind. After all, I have passed away, and I love you.  If not today, soon I will be dancing and playing keyboard with the angels in God’s band.   I hope it is “Take Me Out To the Ballgame” and having the best seat behind home plate to watch the Angels play. I leave behind my cherished family, and look forward to seeing you all again.

Love You Forever, Teddie Sue

Rejected Editorial by WSJ

Home and parents are the beginning and the sustaining guide to a child’s success in school.  A strategy for school achievement is a rather long laundry list that begins at birth in the home; it is what will give them a strong inner core, flexibility and wings.  A child that is thriving in school has parents that make expectations clear and create a home environment that promotes learning and love.  These successful students have healthy habits in most all they do and relationships with their parents.

They have parents that foster making education a priority that teaches respect, responsibility and a good attitude.  These parents and children use each day to learn about success though experience by utilizing grit, courage, resilience, and optimism.

Families with successful children celebrate honesty, empathy for others, and talk about challenges and overcoming obstacles. These parents teach their children by example how to have a moral compass, learn, grasp opportunities, and encouragement to expect success.


You can find these children in any classroom across America.  It would serve the public well if WSJ did not show a limited view of a story.  To appear to only support charter schools as the end all of education is incorrect and deceptive of where a schools success is generated. School achievement is apolitical and should be presented as what is the foundation of character for a child’s academic success.