Sunflowers & Death
There was a sunflower farm near my old school. It was owned by one of the students’ fathers. The story goes that they made sunflower seed oil many years ago, but they weren’t making enough money due to a drought. They opened the farm up to let people come in and take pictures. It was busy on the weekends, but it is always quiet during the week. It is the most peaceful around this time of year because I knew the owners and could go in for free.
It was 5 years ago, and I walked through. The sunflowers are beautiful in yellow. One could buy them, and they encouraged you to purchase the seeds and the oils they made from them. It was away from the school. It puts one in a frame of mind away from work. It calms me, relaxes me and puts me in a different mood.
I was frustrated by a student I hoped would do better than he did. I needed the fresh air and went there to recharge. It was tough, and I came back. He was playing basketball, and I joined for a bit. His English was not the best, but he liked the game. I was in my teaching gear, but played anyway. We didn’t have the best relationship, but there was a bit of respect over the game. Maybe the boy saw me differently, trying to play basketball, but more wanting to build a deeper connection with him. He would shoot, and the ball would go nowhere near the net. He’d apologize, but I would respond, ‘There is no apology in basketball.’ It would continue for a while in the heat. The kid warmed up to me for the first time in 6 years. There was respect, and I felt it. I thought I made progress.
Maybe it was the calm of the sunflowers or getting him to play and talk without me being a ‘teacher’, but a guy who likes to play basketball. I made a connection, and it meant a lot to me. I remember going home feeling good.
The next morning, I got a call from my brother. My father had passed. I was broken and in some ways still am. I remember the sunflowers and playing basketball with the students during those days. I can’t believe it has been 5 years, it feels like yesterday.