a Recommendation letter for my mother

This is a recommendation letter written by a lawyer, a former student of my mother's and handled her estate stuff. He's been a "go to" of mine and sounding board over the years, past 14 or 15--since she died. You'd think he was from Massachusetts in the way he talks but is Franklin born and raised. Great sense of humor.

She had quite a few students become lawyers and another expressed sadness to find she had been "put out" as incompetent. I have lived with this reality since I was in the 2nd grade and it---I keep thinking of the Alanis song when I want to talk about sweeping things under the rug---it was swept under the rug when I decided to say I would work in a school system. I've lived with it but swept it under the rug, especially from 2004-2007, when I had my job. I let it all go and I tried to let other things go.

"The above referenced Bernice Taylor was my 9th grade science teacher during the academic year of 1962-1963, and was instrumental in my electing to major in, and to receive a degree in, chemistry while at the University of Cincinnati, prior ro my enrollment in law school. While I can't claim to be the best-behaved student she's ever had, I found her to be tolerant of my high spirits, knowledgable, current, dedicated, motivated, and most importantly, motivating. Mrs. Taylor, then Miss Boggs, openly welcomed the questions from inquiring young minds,and would use her own time to ferret out answers to questions for which she did not have answers at her fingertips. Mrs. Boggs (I think he meant Taylor) also required that her better students participate in the annual science fairs, even over their objections raised in consequence of the prospect of teh additional work involved. Within the constraints of very tight budgeting, Mrs. Taylor attempted to instill in her students a sincere appreciation for the workings of the world about them, and in my case, at least, imparted rather than destroyed, a continuing curiosity about scientific phenomena. In an increasingly technological society, what more may a science teacher do for her students?"

She was supposed to have been incompetent. I almost cried typing it out. As much for myself and because of where I am and her---Here I am, I am in no way where she was when she was my age--she had already had so many accomplishments and here I am---BROKE---no real future in getting a job in a school (someone tried to paint a prettier picture in that it's just July, but I'm tired. I'm tired of this---interview, interview, interview---nothing. Tired of it)

My life is nothing, it seems, appears and feels. Nothing. Somehow, this movie has to be made. I'm claiming it to be my purpose.

Cindy
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