Because of You, Henry Adair

 

In what situation would you expect to hear, "I'd rather be right here with you than anywhere else?" Somewhere fun? With close friends or family? How about a high school? Who would speak those words at a high school? Students speaking to each other, maybe?  Certainly not a principal.  Unless it's Mr. Henry Adair addressing students, alumni, and parents at Senior Award's Night at Westside High School where he retired as principal after 31 years. Actually, it was after the awards and after his surprise.
 
He didn't except a flash mob singing his favorite song, What a Wonderful World. Westside alumni  who had waited, for a few minutes in the rain, in an abandoned parking lot on Hwy 28 by-pass across from Westside, surprised their favorite principal, affectionately called "Daddy Adair."  He was touched and said, "I'm honored.  I don't deserve it, but I'm honored, and there's nowhere else I'd rather by than with you." Anyone who knows Henry Adair, knows he most certainly deserved this honor.

 

He wasn't an ordinary principal. It wasn't simply a job. Westside is family to him.  Yes, he has a family and shows them incredible love, support, and respect.  But he treated parents, students, staff, and anyone else with that same love, support, and respect; in fact, he said, "There may have been times I didn't like you, but I always loved you."

 

His children told me his favorite bible passage was Psalm 23.  I didn't expect that, but it's appropriate for Henry Adair.  He has been through the valley of the shadow of death, but it doesn't take long to realize he spends time with God giving evidence to a restored soul, renewed strength, and a life guided along right paths bringing honor to His name. 

 

Parents saw this; in fact, we have his cell number and called him when we needed him.  He met with us and was genuinely concerned about the welfare of our children.  Always sharing a positive attitude, he dealt fairly with staff, students, and parents.  

 

Students saw this and knew he cared about them. He stood on the sidelines and watched their games, weekend football and weekday volleyball, basketball, softball, and on and on. He attended concerts, awards ceremonies, and meetings.  If they were ill, he knew about it and expressed concern.  He saw them at Waffle House after the prom, took a selfie, and paid for their meal.

 

May 24, 2014 was Mr. Adair's last graduation as principal of Westside High School.  Luckily, my daughter was one of his graduates.  The valedictorian, Joshua Wright, reminded us of the tremendous influence he has on our community, "We could be so lucky to make the impact Mr. Adair has made."  

 

A few of Mr. Adair's final words from graduation prove that he's a man of God whose cup overflows with blessings, and in turns blesses those around him.

Make the rest of your life a great adventure.  Use your education and do your part to make the world a better place.  Set your goals high.  Don't be afraid to try new things.  It's ok to fail.  I dare you to be a good person. Be kind, courteous,  slow to condemn and quick to stand up for what is right. I hope Westside has made you different. I hope you're a better person. I hope you can see it's a wonderful world because of you. You have been my passion, my life.  You're the reason I get up.  I'm a better person for knowing you.  Do not trade evil for evil, only good for good. You'll always have a home at Westside.  It's been my honor and pleasure.  You've helped me more than I've helped you. You loved and supported me through Jane's (his late wife) illness and death. You'll live on in my heart.  No matter where you go. We'll always be there for you.

 

The Lord is my shepherd.  I have all that I need.  Psalm 23:1

Surely goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 23:6   NLT

The Shepherd guides Henry Adair's life along right paths, so we're the ones better for knowing him and have the privilege and honor to share his world. Students, staff, and parents experienced God's unfailing love and goodness by knowing him.  

 

We think to ourselves, it's because of you, Henry Adair, that it's a wonderful world.  

 

 

1.  

Keep Dancing

 

Brenda Oehmig, Hope Glymph

Anna Giles, Kathleen Langbehn, Kathryn Yon

Anderson School of Dance was founded in 1972 by Brenda R. Oehmig.  Her goal was to inspire the youth of Anderson through dance, performance and education.  Anna B.Giles and Kathryn K. Yon are proud to carry on the tradition of excellence in dance training. Through Anderson School of Dance's program, students develop a diverse set of skills including artistry, creativity, discipline and confidence.

May 2014 at Anderson University's Rainey Fine Arts Center, Anderson School of Dance said goodbye to eleven dancers they've taught for many years. 

2014 Graduating Seniors

As parents, we appreciate  not only their instruction, but their love and support.  At Anderson School of Dance, it's more than dancing.  It's a tradition of friendships and a world of memories.  Pictures of the studio, friends, teachers, recitals and costumes live in their minds, along with a sign in the downtown studio:

 

Keep Dancing No Matter What.

And that's what they did.  They danced with homework and projects waiting at home.  They danced before and after volleyball, softball, soccer, and piano practice.  They danced when they passed or failed a test.  They danced when the teacher said, "do it over." They kept dancing when they turned the wrong way, let their hands flop around, or bounced too much with heads and ponytails bobbing. They danced when their sweet hearts were broken or their feelings hurt.  They waited with twisted ankles, broken arms, ear infections, or stomach bugs, then returned to dance on happy as well as sad days.

 

Sally Hancock

Hope Glymph, Anna Giles

They kept dancing with holes in their shoes, hair uncombed, and tired legs.  A young, cute, but very tired Sally Hancock feel asleep in tap class, but she continued to tap through her senior year.  Mrs. Brenda told Sally and Hope they might be more "jazz instead of ballet girls."   That faster pace was fine with them, and we enjoyed their senior solo jazz performances.  I've tried to picture Hope Glymph's senior dance through 14 recitals, but her smile and personality were better than I imagined.

 

 

 

Adison Markely, Sydney Hamby,
Peyton Finley

With years of ballet, tap, and jazz experience, Peyton Finley, Adison Markley, and Sydney Hamby had enough confidence for a solo, but these great friends (on and off the stage) chose to tap together for their final recital.  Kathleen McElhannon and Kathleen Langbehn wowed us with their poise and proved ASD's commitment to artistry.  Kristen Gurley brought smiles with a bright and fun tap performance.  Samantha Shaw joined senior dancers for classic disco.

Monday night jazz class, Disco

 

 

Due to an injury,  Emily Stafford couldn't dance for her senior recital, but she didn't miss her picture.  Why? Anderson School of Dance taught them to dance in the sunshine and the rain, like Matt Constanzo as Gene Kelly.

 

We held their hands and marched them up the steps lined with Carolina jasmine through the red door surrounded by ivy into the downtown studio where they learned to skip, hop, leap, and turn with initials written on the bottom of their shoes.  We bought dozens of tights and shoes, took an obnoxious amount of pictures and wrote hundreds of checks.  We curled, combed, and bobby-pinned hair, smiled at their fantastic costumes, ordered flowers, laughed, cheered, and proudly watched them dance. 

 

 

A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 3:4

For these eleven senior dancers, the giggles and stretching on the studio floor has ended,  but they'll keep dancing no matter what.  They'll work and study, win and lose, fall in love, fall out of love, make new friends, cherish old ones, and find their passion in life. 

ASD memories are locked in their hearts, offering confidence, creativity, and discipline to keep dancing through life's many seasons.

 

Paying tuition, spending a busy week in May preparing for ASD recitals, taking pictures, ordering a DVD, and bringing flowers for these seniors has ended.  But, we'll be there to make sure they keep dancing.  We'll take different pictures, write checks for textbooks and work clothes, and send flowers when their life dreams are met.  We'll watch them dance in the sunshine and the rain.  Maybe, we'll watch them take pictures, write checks, and order flowers for their own Anderson School of Dance dancers.

King Solomon writes of  the seasons we all experience: good and bad, happy and sad, muddy and clear, healthy and sick, victorious and defeated.  

 

Keep Dancing No Matter What

 

 

 

 

 

 

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