Happy Birthday to My Singin' Sister

Shannon is one of my very best friends and tomorrow is her birthday! I choose to honor her because she is like the better half of my teaching soul and her friendship is invaluable to me. How I have managed to teach the last six years without her is a mystery.

I first heard about Shannon in 7th grade, when her mother, my English teacher, would interject stories of Shannon's antics into her teaching. Her mother was my favorite teacher, as she was for many of my friends who were in her class. So, after getting a teaching job in the district I grew up in, I taught with two other general music teachers before Shannon was hired. When my supervisor told me who she was, I chuckled because I remembered her although I wouldn't haven't known her if I tripped over her. She graced the halls of Gayhead Elementary and hasn't left, to their very good fortune.

Shannon is a vocalist, so I immediately felt a sense of intimidation because I was not technically a vocal major in college. However, as we got a sense of each other's style and realized how unbelievably similar our philosophies, discipline and styles were-we began a partnership that was rather formidable! We worked on several 5th grade musicals (each one more grandiose until we finally scaled back with the African folktales, my personal favorite) and we organized the holiday singalong for the entire school. We did our end of the year book request days with combined classes, probably having more fun than the kids at times.

Our piano skills were equally questionable. We ended up taking piano lessons with our accompanist and good friend Dan to help us improve our arpeggios and boomchucks. It turned into a competition over who did better on the sightreading examples he gave us (trust me, they were NOT EASY!). During one singalong, we enlisted Thomas to come and play piano for us-but we only gave him the songs we didn't enjoy playing.


At Gayhead, we were constantly mistaken for each other, given the same hair color, height, similar taste in clothing. Some of our nicknames included: The Bobbsey Twins, the Singing Sisters and Murph and Mc. We ate lunch together every day-Shannon with her two Twizzlers, a banana, a piece of cheese and a snack bag of Fritos. We color-coordinated our outfits for the holiday singalong. We went to see our former students perform in the junior high and high school musicals. Shannon even performed in a few musicals, including the part of Sarah in "Guys and Dolls". She even sang at our wedding.

Shannon met Ryan during our years at Gayhead and I remember the grin from ear to ear, the squeaky cute voice when she said "Ryan" and she later married him. He is a band director in the same district and one of the best guys around. (besides my own)

After I moved to Arizona, things have never been the same in teaching. Shannon kept me honest as a teacher, she encouraged me to work harder and made the day in and day out so enjoyable. It was as if we were of the same mind. I loved it and I miss her every single day that I teach. One day, I hope that we will be given the same opportunity to work together again.

Now we both have young children-she with another on the way in addition to her beautiful and energetic daughter and we are emailing back and forth with all of the joy, commiseration and questions that we have as parents. We make it a point to always spend time with Ryan, Shannon and Kaeleigh when we visit New York. It's never enough time, but their friendship is like putting on a warm, cozy coat from the closet that you love. It always fits and it always keeps you warm and happy, always broken in. We pick up where we left off and we continue the best that we can over distance.

Shannon-thank you for being my colleague and one of my best friends. I wish you a most wonderful birthday AND your last one as a mother of one. Welcome to the world of true chaos! My gift to you is whatever I can do to listen and help in the transition. We all love you!