More school visits

February 13, 2010 • Posted in baseball, blindness, book tour, Flo, Seeing Eye dogs, Uncategorized, visiting schools by

That's me and Hanni at Reavis School in Chicago.

Hanni and I have visited 4 schools in the past couple of weeks. Five, if you count a side trip to my alma mater, York High School in Elmhurst IL. But I’ll get to that later. First, the elementary schools. Reavis Elementary in Chicago, Jefferson Elementary in Milwaukee, Kipling and Wilmot Elementary Schools in Deerfield, IL all had us come as part of “disability awareness week.” Our presentations were geared to first graders, who were learning the five senses, and third graders, who were studying Helen Keller. “Have you ever heard of her?” a third grader asked. I told her I had. “Helen Keller was a writer, just like me! “I said. “Except she wrote a lot about politics.” The crowd grew silent. These 6 and 8-year-olds had no idea what I was talking about. Note to self: save discussion of Helen Keller’s socialist and feminist leanings for some other time. We moved on.

A student who had already read Hanni and Beth: Safe & Sound said he noticed that the woman in the book used a white cane before she got a dog. “Did you use a white cane, too, before you got your dog?” I had to explain that, hey, I am the woman in the book! “Do Hanni and I look like the pictures?” They chorused a “Yes!” Hanni turned 10 last week. People tell me she’s turning white around the muzzle. It was a relief to hear the kids say she still resembles the young energetic pup Anthony LeTourneau painted for the illustrations in Safe & Sound.

A first grader wanted to know what Hanni dressed like for Halloween. She didn’t dress up this year, but I was tempted to dress as a baseball umpire and go trick-or-treating with Hanni at my side — you might recall the umps were in a little hot water during the playoffs last season?

And at Wilmot School, in Deerfield, IL.

And now for our high school visit. Hanni and I didn’t go to York to perform; we went to see a performance. Remember my great niece Anita, the one I mentioned in my blog post about Obama’s election night party? She is a star on Willowbrook High School’s freshman basketball team, and Willowbrook and York are rivals. My sister Bev came in from Michigan to see Anita play, and Flo was going, too. Anita’s family and her grandma and grandpa (my sister Cheryl and brother-in-law Rich) always go to Anita’s games, and Hanni and I decided to take the train to Elmhurst and join the fun.

So there we were on the second row of the bleachers: Anita’s 93-year-old great-grandmother who uses a walking cane, seated next to Anita’s great aunt Beth, who uses a Seeing Eye dog.

We were right at the center line. Basketball shoes thumped back and forth. When I heard action at our right, I knew to cheer: Willowbrook might score. When the action was at our left, I could yell, “Defense!” Flo was a natural at play-by-play. She’d groan every time the ball went in-and-out of Willowbrook’s basket, so I knew when they missed. And she ever-so quietly repeated “Miss it, miss it, miss it” at every York free throw. A groan after that told me Flo’s voodoo didn’t work, York made the shot.

That's me and Flo and my sister Bev cheering Anita on--between gabbing.

Anita played well, and The game was very exciting. I know it’s old news by now but I just gotta say: it is oh so cool that girls are encouraged to play sports now. Helen Keller would be pleased.

Anita, the budding star.

After the game, 14-year-old Anita was promoted to the varsity team – she’ll be playing in the regionals this week. Not sure Flo and I will make it to any of those games, though. After we successfully climbed down from the bleachers, Flo pulled me close. “I don’t know about you, Beth,” she whispered. “But my butt is sore!”

Cheryl On February 15, 2010 at 12:14 pm

We’re looking forward to Anita’s game tonight. Anita was also chosen to participate in the 3 point shoot out before the game! You know Anita’s always been a “cool cucumber” but I think she may be getting almost as excited as her gramma and grampa.

Bob On February 15, 2010 at 1:30 pm

Never knew Helen Keller was a sufragette. Interesting post, as always!

bethfinke On February 16, 2010 at 7:44 am

Cheryl – am up early this morning, was hoping to find a group email from Anita’s mom telling us all about what happened at the game and the 3-point tourney last night. Hmm. Guess I’ll have to check facebook!

bethfinke On February 16, 2010 at 7:59 am

Stuart-
Funny you should ask about the high school band playing at the game. There was no band at the game we were at, but rap music was *blasting* from a super stereo system while the teams were warming up. Flo and I were eager for the game to start just so we could, as Flo likes to say, “hear ourselves think!”
My sister Bev (the one who’d come in from Michigan for the game) and I were wondering the very same thing, is there still a “pep band” or are they happy just piping in music now? Bev was a superstar in the York high school band – she played drums, *very* unusual for a girl back then. This was before Karen Carpenter hit the scene — don’t I recall you’re leaving a comment here at some point saying you were a “Rainy Days and Mondays” fan?
ANYWAY, we figured the band would never play for a freshman team whether it be boys or girls basketball, but we hoped, hoped, hoped the band still played during games –nothing like crashing a cymbal or doing a drum roll after your team scores!

Cheryl On February 16, 2010 at 12:31 pm

Well, the Willowbrook Warriors lost to Glenbard East last night but our Anita, in her first game with the Varsity Team scored two points and played some great defense. The highlight of the night came before the game. Eight girls, four from each team, were chosen by their coaches to participate in the 3 point shoot out contest. Three girls shot well enough to move on to the next level taking place tonight. Our Anita was one of the three girls! The other two girls are from Glenbard East and are seniors. Anita is the only qualifier from Willowbrook and she is a freshman. I hope Anita can do as well tonight……and about the band, even at Regional Playoffs there was piped in music. One extra added attraction though was a dozen cheerleaders from Glenbard East, including girls and boys.

Janet On February 16, 2010 at 12:50 pm

thanks beth for blogging about anita, very cool…i’ll make sure she checks this out. thanks mom for posting anita’s update. she is nervous for tonight’s shootout, telling one friend, yes you can come, no you can’t, yes you can…she’s funny, trying to calm herself down, ‘i’m only a freshman so it really doesn’t matter’. right. anyway, it’s really cool for her. now, if her mother could just calm down…can’t wait for tonight’s shootout!!

Bev On February 16, 2010 at 2:16 pm

Great blog. Enjoyed all the kiddie stories and the recap of Anita’s game from your point of view, Beth. I wondered how you knew when to cheer. Heck, you were the cheer leader. Congrats on advancing in the 3 point shoot out, Anita! You rock!

bethfinke On February 16, 2010 at 6:47 pm

Am writing this at 5:45 pm, guessing the 3-point shoot out will start soon? Go Anita! Since Willowbrook didn’t advance in the regionals, I’m guessing you all can just go to the shoot-out before the game and then leave before the real game starts.
Unless you want to stay to admire the cheerleaders, that is — both girls and boys. How. Very. Cool.

Cheryl On February 16, 2010 at 9:47 pm

As we watched AnnMarie wish Anita her last cheer before Anita’s turn to shoot her round in the three point shoot out we all hoped that Anita would make every basket that she aimed for. Anita, along with four other competitors downed 3 baskets. Four other girls shot more baskets including three girls from Elk Grove and one from Glenbard East. Anita was disappointed but her Varsity coach was there to remind her of her accomplishment and that she had her high school career ahead of her. I see a lot basket practice in Uncle Ben’s backyard this summer…….We’re proud of you, Anita!

Close your eyes and shoot « Safe & Sound blog On February 22, 2010 at 11:22 am

[…] hearing that my great-niece Anita had been invited to compete in a high school girl’s three-point tournament, I dug up an ESPN.com story about Matt Steven, a blind teenager who shoots free throws for his high […]

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