A Voice from The Past: Memory Work, Kindness and Miss M.

When I was a child in grade five my teacher, Miss M., was in the habit of giving us memory work. I remember only the following lines  now, from a poem, the title of which I no longer know.

" Slowly, silently, now the Moon
  Walks the night in her silver shoon
  This way and that she peers and sees
  Silver fruit upon silver trees."

I think the poet was Walter de la Mare, but I may be wrong. Last night at the Sunset Arts Gallery Opening a woman walked through our door with some companions. She looked very familiar to me but it wasn't until I heard her voice as she was talking to her friends about her favourite painting in the gallery that I could place her. I introduced myself to her. I am sure she didn't remember me, since I have changed quite a bit in the many years since grade five. I reminded her of the great kindness she had shown me when I inadvertently destroyed many of her files when I was plant monitor and over watered ( to say the least ), causing a river of water to run down the shelves and on to her work.  I was sure I would be in so much trouble, but as I tried to explain what had happened, she laughed and said she understood and helped me to clean up the water. I have never forgotten her kindness to a terrified little girl. Before she left the gallery she purchased her favourite painting, Near Ril Lake, which was one of mine  which I did plein air near a friend's cottage. Thank you Miss M., for the purchase and for so much more!

Near Ril Lake