Celebrating Sarah's Birthday - October 19th

Happy Birthday, Sarah, from your friends at Meadow Wood Elementary. We miss you and love you. We'd like to share the poem Sarah's students read December, 2011 when the library in our new building was dedicated to Sarah.

 

Like Captured Fireflies

by John Steinbeck

In her classroom our speculations ranged the world.

She aroused us to book waving discussions.

Every morning we came to her carrying new truths, new facts, new ideas

Cupped and sheltered in our hands like captured fireflies.

When she went away a sadness came over us,

But the light did not go out.

She left her signature upon us

The literature of the teacher who writes on children's minds.

I've had many teachers who taught us soon forgotten things.

But only a few like her who have created in me a new thing, a new hunger, a new attitude.

I suppose that to a large extent I am the unsigned manuscript of that teacher.

What deathless power lies in the hands of such a teacher. 

 

Denise and I recently got an email from Cameron Hammon which we would like to share with you. Attached was a song sung by Cameron entitled "Up to the Mountain." Cameron sings it in such a way that it touches the soul. Hoping that you will have the opportunity to hear this in the near future.

David and Denise Chidgey

I want to tell you the story of how this song got recorded.

As you will notice, I'm singing it quite a bit softer than I usually do, and the way that happened was pretty cool.

So we recorded in a big old house in the woods outside Dallas. We started the vocal for this song late afternoon, and I did a couple performances the way I usually do. Just as it was getting dark (the house was full of giant windows) Josh Moore --who was producing-- asked me to sing it differently. To try to simplify it a bit and lean back into the most basic melody. I was singing in the giant main room of the house -- floor to ceiling windows-- and did two takes just like what you hear on the recording. While I was singing every hair on my body was standing on end, and Josh, in the other room had the same experience. Something magical was happening. Between the two takes Josh and I saw a flash of light in the woods, so bright it looked like a camera flash. We looked closer and realized that the house was surrounded by fireflies.

Josh had no idea of the connection of this song to Sarah and to Fireflies, and he said," I guess all the fireflies are coming to hear you sing."

I will never ever ever forget this experience as long as I live. I hope you like the song and the way it turned out.

All my love to you and David and Brooke,

Cameron

Matt and Cameron Hammon & Alex Dezen of The Rebecca West can be found at https://www.facebook.com/therebeccawest?ref=ts&fref=ts

Love always . . .

Missing you so much Sarah. Love always. Dad, Mom, and Brooke