There’s something truly special that occurs whenever I find myself wandering the hallways of Perry Browne Elementary School, considering it was my first school. Obviously things have changed a bit since I last sat behind a desk there, yet some things never have, namely my Kindergarten teacher, Diana Hickling.

It was with great pleasure that I visited with Mrs. Hickling’s class yesterday for my third installment in The Evening Sun’s Delivering Christmas series – to enjoy some holiday cheer with her third-graders, play a Christmas song or two (or six) on the guitar and speak with them about the importance of good reading and writing skills in this day and age.

Mrs. Hickling met me as I was making my way to her classroom (ironically located in the space where I spent the sixth grade) and I’ll admit I was more than a little nervous about speaking to – and performing for – her third-graders. To add to this, I was informed that Mr. Lawton’s class would also be joining us, increasing my apprehension. Yet in the end, it turned out I really had nothing to worry about.

I managed to get myself settled in just before the approximately 30 third-graders (was I ever that small?) filed into the room, many with a little wave as if to say “welcome back.” In no time, everyone was seated and, following a brief introduction by Mrs. Hickling, I got down to business.