Hey folks. Not long ago I found out that my elementary music teacher was in hospice. Those who know me know that I love to make music. Drums, guitars, cello, and a little piano, but I’ll pick up anything that makes a musical sound and try to figure it out. That all started 3 decades ago with one lady who, as of now, is sadly nearing the end of her time here with us. I’ve missed too many opportunities to say thank you to people that helped me when I was young, and I didn’t want to let it happen again.
If this post does nothing else for you, let it be a reminder that people don’t last forever. If someone did something deeply meaningful for you, don’t wait until it’s too late to say thank you.
Below is a copy of the email I sent her (with a few redactions for privacy):
Dear Mrs. K (my first music teacher),
I just wanted to tell you that I loved your class in elementary school. (That’s a monumental understatement, by the way.) The only vivid memories I have from those days were during recess and music class. I remember singing Everyday is Earth Day, getting my turn to play the xylophones, and all the kids that played the knuckle song on the piano for musical show and tell (or whatever you called it). I loved when the whole class got to make music together, taking turns with the different instruments.
I can honestly say, your class was probably the only time in my K-12 “career” that I actually got excited to go to a class. While we’d wait in line outside the music room, I was bouncing around, moving side to side, bursting at the seams to make music. No kidding, if we waited outside too long I’d start to panic that we were losing music time.
Now, among several other things, one of my jobs is making music. I’ve learned how to play several instruments and some recording techniques, and I make music for podcasters and YouTubers.
Thank you for showing me how great music is. I love it so much. I have a guitar in just about every room in the house.
I will always remember you. Thank you thank you thank you!
This one hurts. Please let people who are important to you know it while they’re still around.
I had a guidance counselor in high school that I tried to reconnect with a few years ago only to find out it was too late. I have a few stories like that, as you probably do too. So I won’t sit here and beat you over the head with it any more than I already have. Just make sure you tell the good people in your life you appreciate them.
I appreciate you. Thanks for reading my blogs, listening to my podcast, reading my book, and all that stuff. It means a lot. You rock.
Love you guys.
-CT
Christopher Tallon is the author of the dark, adventurous, time-travel novel Switchers.
PS – if you want to listen to my podcast, do it. If you want to subscribe to the blog, do it. And if you want to read my book and review it on Amazon, by all means. All the links are in my linktree. Also my social links. Follow me on one of those things!
Alright, that’s about enough. If you wanna know the truth, I’m only putting the PS section in here to make sure this post is long enough for the search algorithms.