April 26, 2012 Day 3 — Bryn Mawr to Manayunk

The First “Hurrah?”

Well, today I get the Grand Shipley Send-off. Although this treatment may be completely in the school’s character, it is not at all what I expect. Surprise! Teaching 4th and 5th graders at the school where I taught 19 years is heavenly. I don’t remember students ever hanging on my every word as these dear folks do. Adventure? Hike? Excursion? Jaunt? Trip? Voyage? Pilgrimage? — a walking story captures the imagination and can fit any curriculum from “Westward ho!” (even though I’m heading east) to the Greek Odyssey. And then comes the all-school people-path from Lower to Upper campus to wish me well; the street is lined on both sides first with lower schoolers shouting “Ultreya” and waving their “Buen Camino” signs, then middle schoolers holding out their hands for high fives, then the upper school cheering me on, then filling in behind me to accompany me to Upper School. What a high! Now I really have to get to Boston. Although addressing a huge crowd on the Shipley Quad and giving an impromptu speech are not my forte, a gentle rain shortens its length. Could this be a Nathaniel meteorological intervention in light of my anxiety? Courage and grace can make anything possible. As if this isn’t enough, I am then presented with extraordinarily generous contributions to support the IOCD Foundation from students and staff. Thank you, dear Shipley Community. You’re the bomb! My steps in the afternoon, as two friends and I head toward Bala Cynwyd, are definitely lighter. I ride on the wings of this morning’s “Buen Camino.” See more photos on the Shipley Website.