But I do feel very strongly that G-d is sending me in this new direction. I"ll be working as a media specialist for Duval County Public Schools. The library seemed to need me, and the administration considered me a good fit. And turns out the library assistant is a friend of my predecessor.
It will be very hard to leave, but it feels like the right thing. And I'm sure there is another librarian out there who is perfect for this school. I hope my students will make him/her feel as welcome as I have been.
Being a part of this community has been a real blessing. Working with the students helped me decide to become a parent. I"ll never forget the staff and students' joy when I shared my good news with them. And the one little boy, who, when he found out I was having a daughter, said "Okay, but don't make her a girly girl!" I laughed and asked him if I was a girly girl? He said no. :)
I will keep the memories of my five years here in my heart. Probably my most treasured memory is the day I brought my Great-Grandmother's quilt in when we read Patricia Polacco's "The Keeping Quilt". The students loved it; they still talk about it now, two years later. When my Great-Grandmother hand sewed and quilted this beautiful work of art up in Georgia where she lived, I don't imagine she knew her great granddaughter would be sharing it with such a special community. I'll always love how that quilt tied my heritage and the students' heritage together in such a special way.
