Time Machine: My First Day at McHenry

 The stamp on this pic is Feb 72, but it was taken before school started in August 71 - I think my very first day in the room. Notice the radiators. We were first on the raditor flow. By January, in order to keep classes toward the end of the line reasonably warm, our room was a sauna. We opened the windows even on very cold days. Notice the house directly across the driveway behind me. That is where the janitors, Nellie (Not Edith!) and Earl Hill lived - on campus.

Notice the partition built around the light fixture. Mrs. Nancy Helser, the Title I Reading teacher, taught across the partition - one light switch. We each heard every word spoken in the other room.

Tight quarters for a fifth grade class. I think I had about 25, but I'll have to see if I can find a count.

Sheila probably took this. I had been married one week.

I don't think I have any FB friends I taught in this room in 1971, 1972, and 1973. I still see Wayne Morgan, occasionally. I run into Nancy Edwards' brother now and then.

Honeymoon

 Cape San Blas Florida, c. August 9, 1971

Time Machine: Our Wedding

My sisters Carol and Debi were bridesmaids

Oh my goodness. Look at us. I don't remember seeing this before. Is that you Sheila Matthews Shaw

Mary Grace grew up in this church, as did Sheila.

My sister Beth sang beautifully.
---
Beth Shaw
Tagging Amanda Hearn Sims and Joshua Hearn

Brannon Shaw
Aww.. you guys.

Terrell Shaw
The cartoon thought bubbles were cropped out of the picture --
Sheila: "Lordy, how in the world did I get into this?"
Terrell: "Lordy, how in the world did I get so lucky?"

Rachel Craw
Beautiful! I hear you two were on an extended honeymoon--

constantly making out--at the time.

The little sanctuary of Tallahassee Heights United Methodist Church has since become a chapel next to the much larger current sanctuary at the corner of US 90 and Capital Circle.

That's my father, who presided at our wedding, climbing the steps.

Terrell Shaw
We recited poems to each other during the ceremony. Sheila recited :

If I can bear your love like a lamp before me,
When I go down the long steep Road of Darkness,
I shall not fear the everlasting shadows,
Nor cry in terror.

If I can find out God, then I shall find Him,
If none can find Him, then I shall sleep soundly,
Knowing how well on earth your love sufficed me,
A lamp in darkness.

~ Sara Teasdale 

Terrell Shaw
I recited a poem I had written for Sheila:

Wedding Song
To Sheila

Let us possess one world;
each hath one, and is one. -John Donne

Through you, first love, gift of my God,
I taste the love of every Eve, innocently,
As the first and every Adam.

By you, sharer of my soul, I hear a song
resounding through the centuries within myself.

It is from you, primordial bud,
I know the fragrance of each and
all the blossoming days.

Dear heart of my heart,
they are your hands that have held mine
to nature's heart.

They are your eyes, graceful beauty,
which have shown to me meaning
in fathomless space and time.

And it is for all time and space,
for each and all the dawns and days,
for every blossom
and all the beats of that great collective heart,
my Eve,
our loves are one
and each.

Mary Clemones Stanley
Beautiful couple.

Carol Payne
Your girls look like their mama!

Linda Floyd Blackwell
I agree with Carol. Beautiful pictures.

Ann Gore
Lovely couple.

Marsha Yancey Atkins
Two of the best people I know!

Laurie Craw
Beautiful couple.

Ruth Baird Shaw
Sheila is and has been my precious and beautiful daughter from "Day One". Just a few days ago, she was here at my house teaching this old lady how to use an " I- Phone."

George Barton
I learn something new all the time about iPhones. I just have a 4s, an old model. Just found out it is a level, go to the compass and just slide it over, and there it is to get all your pictures straight.

Tersi Bendiburg
Beautiful couple and photo. God continue to bless your marriage.

Ralph Davis
Your storytelling powers served in good stead to land such a catch

Great picture of a beautiful couple.

Jim Howell
Congratulations

Lynne Crothers Williams
Happy Anniversary!

Wendell W Barnes Jr
Happy Anniversary you two lovebirds!

Carlene Cuzzourt
You were the best teacher Mr. Shaw

Happy Anniversary

Terrell Shaw
Carlene, that sure warms my old heart! I have had a whole bunch of wonderful kids since 1969!

Thanks, everyone for all the good wishes. We are having a great time!

Chris Goodwin
If you are old enough to have taught Carlene Cuzzourt and me, it truly shows your age. WOW. I'm sure she was better behaved than myself, but i proclaim that those roles have reversed in our adulthood

Happy Anniversary!!!

I made the decision to ask my brother to be my best man. He may be among the youngest guys in history to serve that role. I figured since my Daddy was performing the ceremony, David should serve that role -- he wouldn't always be a kid, but he would always be my brother -- and I might one day need a good barbecue smoker for my Independence Day celebrations.

Terrell Shaw

Does anyone else see Katie Shaw in this picture?

Ruth Baird Shaw
Katie like Jessica and Haley got the best of both parents!

Carol Shaw Johnston
He has always been so cute & precious!

Joan Shaw Turrentine
Now THAT's my baby brother!

Ruth Baird Shaw
Yes...cute, precious, good , smart...

Ann Gore
What an honor!!

Daddy is holding his ever-present camera. I come by it honestly. See the Polaroid print in his right hand. He is no doubt counting silently to sixty, anxious to peel it for that wonderful thrill of "instant" photography.

 

Charlie and Rhoda were fellow interns of mine in the National Teacher Corps in WV. Rhoda's husband Kevin was one of my groomsmen. Rhoda died of cancer several years ago. Bob and Sharlee Gipson are our dear friends from college days. As you can see Sharlee was one of Sheila's bridesmaids.

Ruth Baird Shaw
Beautiful wedding and i got another wonderful daughter i love as my own.

We attended church that Sunday morning, then the wedding party met at Aunt Dot's home on the south side of town for Sunday dinner before the afternoon wedding. We had originally planned to be married on Saturday the 7th, but found the church already reserved by another couple for that date.

Time Machine: Our Wedding Day

We attended church at Tallahassee Heights United Methodist Church that morning then the wedding party met at Sheila's Aunt Dot Peebles' house for lunch. This picture was taken there.

-------------------

We recited poems to each other during the ceremony. Sheila recited :

If I can bear your love like a lamp before me,

When I go down the long steep Road of Darkness,

I shall not fear the everlasting shadows,

Nor cry in terror.

If I can find out God, then I shall find Him,

If none can find Him, then I shall sleep soundly,

Knowing how well on earth your love sufficed me,

A lamp in darkness.

~ Sara Teasdale

I recited a poem I had written for Sheila:

Wedding Song

To Sheila

Let us possess one world;

each hath one, and is one. -John Donne

Through you, first love, gift of my God,

I taste the love of every Eve, innocently,

As the first and every Adam.

By you, sharer of my soul, I hear a song

resounding through the centuries within myself.

It is from you, primordial bud,

I know the fragrance of each and

all the blossoming days.

Dear heart of my heart,

they are your hands that have held mine

to nature's heart.

They are your eyes, graceful beauty,

which have shown to me meaning

in fathomless space and time.

And it is for all time and space,

for each and all the dawns and days,

for every blossom

and all the beats of that great collective heart,

my Eve,

our loves are one

and each. 

- Terrell Shaw

The wedding party: Ron Johnston, Mary Grace Cash, Gary Veale, Sharlee Caister Gipson, Judy Chastain, Sheila, Terrell, David Shaw, Carol Shaw Johnston, Kevin Moore, Debi Shaw, Jimmy Matthews

L-R: James Clarence Matthews, Esther Mavis Snell Matthews, Sheila Ann Matthews Shaw, Charles Terrell Shaw, Sarah Ruth Baird Shaw, Charles Columbus Shaw. 2011 Facebook Comment from Joan Shaw Turrentine: "It was a good day for the Shaw family. I got my 5th sister and a new appreciation for the many talents and strengths of my baby brother."

L-R: Judy Chastain (Maid of Honor), Sheila, Terrell, David Baird Shaw (Best Man)

8-8-71
Tallahassee Heights UMC
Tallahassee FL
2011 note: Charlie and Rhoda were fellow interns of mine in the National Teacher Corps in WV. Rhoda's husband Kevin was one of my groomsmen. Rhoda died of cancer several years ago. Bob and Sharlee Gipson are our dear friends from college days. As you can see Sharlee was one of Sheila's bridesmaids.
Comment:
Ruth Baird Shaw
Beautiful wedding and I got another wonderful daughter I love as my own.

L-R: Judy Chastain, Carol Shaw Johnston, Ron Johnston, Rhoda Moore, Charlie Yates. 2011 note: We attended church that Sunday morning, then the wedding party met at Aunt Dot's home on the south side of town for Sunday dinner before the afternoon wedding. We had originally planned to be married on Saturday the 7th, but found the church already reserved by another couple for that date.

Leaving for the honeymoon...