Yesterday, Ms Annette Cooper died of the cancer she's been battling for a year or so now.
It's quite chilling, as I knew her well enough...but at the same time not at all. I think the worst thing about this is when I heard she died I was very sad, very sorrowful for her family, but...I didn't have anything I could think about her.
Besides snide remarks, stories of annoyance, and cruel jokes I'd heard about her from her students, I don't know much about Ms Cooper. I know that she played a woodwind, that she taught Band, and that she really loved "The Year Without a Santa Claus". Everything else I know is practically gossip.
It really hit me, when I realized that I would suck at giving her eulogy, that her entire life was wasted before my eyes. To me, she is nothing but a bad band teacher...I think I may have only heard one or two good stories. And trust me, I'm not telling you all this in a sick version of "Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead". I'm telling you this because I've made a decision.
Ms Cooper probably knew some good jokes, had some beautiful moments of musical power, and lived a good life. She probably shared some very good experiances with her students and friends and family. But I don't know any of these, because her students decided to put her as "Ms Cooper, the evil band teacher extrodonaire" and nothing else. I've realized why gossip sucks so much...not just because it hurts if you get caught and makes relationships strained and awkward, but because that person is ruined in the listener's ears and eyes forever. Ms Cooper has died and I don't know one single good thing to say about her because her students didn't share them.
Celebrate the good things. Rejoice in even and especially your enemy's accomplishments. And listen to Thumper- If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. No one is completely bad and we shouldn't try and paint them that way, ever.
Because then, when they're gone, there's no reason for them to stay in the hearts they touched. They get flushed out and ignored. And no one wants that.
I'm sorry if that's difficult to read or understand, but epiphanies are like that.
Rest in Peace, Ms Cooper. I wish I knew you better than I did. I'll be praying for you and your family.
Thank you Alaina for that beautiful note. Ms. Cooper was a wonderful lady who really did care about her students. She wanted us to do well and wanted us to be as passionate about music as she was. She was one of the people that really pushed me to pursue music because she saw my potential. I just wish that I could have told her the influence that she had in my life before she passed. That is something that I will regret.
ReplyDeleteWow. That was beautiful and deep and precious. I hope you never lose that feeling and that you can carry it with you through your life. It will make you a better person and will be a positive influence on those in your life as well.
ReplyDeleteCarry on my dear, darling daughter - you are doing well. :-)
you know ms. cooper from the band room?!?!?! she was ma favorit :(
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