MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Ruth Berlin

LRTA member Ruth Berlin remained active in the education community even after she retired. In the story below, Ruth reflects on sharing a school lunch with elementary students around the holidays. Ruth passed away on November 12, 2022. This web posting is published in her honor.

Ruth Remembers: I Know You!

Since retiring, I have eaten lunch at Highland Elementary School two and three times a week. There are a number of “senior citizens” who eat there regularly, so a table with chairs was set up in the back of the room to accommodate the group.

I go to Highland School for reason other than for lunch. I volunteered to read or to tell stories to the Highland students in their classrooms on special occasions and even at other times. I have quoted from memory, “Little Orphan Annie,” by O’Henry, around Halloween time. I’ve told stories by drawing a picture on the chalkboard as I go – the completed picture is always a surprise! And, I have told stories using a long piece of string which winds through my fingers as the story develops. I have tried to use several “mediums” for the students to enjoy a story and to demonstrate for the teacher a method or technique new to her “bag of tricks.”

In late September and early October, I will wear earrings that are bright colored leaves like those that are on the trees that season. Around Halloween, I will wear earrings that appear as Jack-O-Lanterns. At Thanksgiving, I often wear a vest with prints of leaves and fruit on it. Near Christmas, I enjoy earrings made of little bows for small packages and a red Santa Claus hat with a white ball on the end. In the Springs months, I wear heart shaped earrings to celebrate Valentine, a St. Patrick necklace in March, and egg earrings around Easter time.

The school children, from kindergarten up, will see me while I am in the school cafeteria, or in the hall, or in a classroom. They may not know my name, but sometimes, one will call me “the Story Telling Lady,” or something similar.

Recently, when Christmas was not too far way, L.C., Cookie, and I came off the cafeteria line and were asked to sit in an area generally reserved for students – not at our “regular” table. We did not sit at the table with chairs, but at a table with attached benches that the children use. Most of the meal, we were the only folks at that particular table, and we carried on a very quiet but delightful conversation. But then, second graders began to enter the cafeteria. As they filed past the dietitian, they were seated at the table where L.C., Cookie, and I were seated. Soon, some children were sitting directly across the table from me – a row of little boys.

I noticed one round-faced, bright-eyed youngster almost staring at me. I used my napkin and wiped my mouth thinking I had food on my face. But, he continued to starve. I smiled at him and again said, “Hello.”

Suddenly, the little boy thrust out his arm and pointed a finger at me. With eyes shining brightly, he exclaimed, “I know you! I know who you are! You are Mrs. Santa Claus!”

A little surprised and a little taken aback, I managed to respond, “Well, you are correct!” I said, “I am Mrs. Santa Claus!”

“Yes,” the child said. “You wear a red Santa hat and red earrings at Christmas time.” We all laughed – adults and children.

After a small pause, the child eagerly asked, “What are you going to bring me for Christmas?”

His question startled me. “Well, let’s see,” and I groped for words and for time to think. “I can’t remember right off hand, but I can check my list,” I said to him.

My fork was in my hand, so I put it on my plate and pretended to reach into my right pant’s pocket and pull out a pad of paper. Holding the fingers of my right hand close together and pointing with a finger from left hand, I pretended to guide my eyes to imaginary lines on my right hand fingers. I even turned the pages of the imaginary pad of paper.

Then I said, “Let me see.” I pondered. “I see your name here; and there is a big check mark after it.” And, I looked directly at the child and said, “You have been a good boy and I have some surprises for you.”

The little brown-eyed, brown-haired boy sitting next to the first child jumped up from his seat, leaned across the table, looked me right in the eye, and said with great excitement, “My name is Michael. See if my name is on that list.”

Since I had not placed my imaginary pad back into my imaginary pocket, I replied, “O.K. Michael,” and I flipped through several more imaginary pages of the “list.” Finally, I let my left-hand index finger pretend to try and locate Michael’s name.

“Yes, here it is. There is a question mark after you name Michael.” And I was immediately saddened at the look on the child’s face, for his excitement had vanished.

“But,” I hurried to say, “a question mark only means I have not yet decided on what to bring you this Christmas.” A wide smile returned to this face and he settled down to eat his lunch.

Cookie, L.C., the near-by children, and I all laughed and continued eating our lunches.

As I departed the table to return home, the first little boy jumped up from the table and ran after me. He grabbed my hand, turned the palm up, placed his plum little fingers in the palm of my hand. As I looked into his impish eyes, he patted my palm and said, “Mrs. Santa Claus, you dropped some of your papers.”

“Thank you, and Merry Christmas!”

Aren’t imaginations wonderful?