Breakfast 17 was just a quick 10 or 15 minutes in Hattiesburg as this tired crew was still a long way from home. But really you could argue that we had a 10 hour breakfast as the four of us talked the entire trip. What a conversation, what a remarkable crew of young women (shout out Franc). It was interesting that at least 10 times during the ride home, we actually paused the music playing because we wanted each other to hear what was being said, and truly wanted to listen to each other.
I can see Hannah in just a few years being a leader of young women, I would say I have pretty good instincts here as so many of these girls become better versions of good people each year. Gretchen Graf's words or Deven Klages' leadership or Katie LaVigne's kindness, but if Hannah can be anywhere close to her older peers in the car, Maggie and Caroline, I would think she could accomplish so much. Hannah has her own talents and voice and on several occasions, I turned to Caroline on the way home and said, "a lot of wisdom from the young one." Some where in the 10 hours Hannah told us that her parents had both been in the Peace Corps. All of a sudden her heart and her compassion for others makes more sense. The other thing several of us saw from Hannah this week is what a good friend she is to her classmates.
I am glad that a lot of the Biloxi veterans get together each Saturday, immediately after the trip. I just found this out on the way home. Which makes Maggie's selflessness from last year even more striking. Maggie last year chose to add 5 and a half hours to her trip home just to make one high school student feel a little more comfortable on the way home. She gave up probably one of the funnest nights of the year. This is Maggie--she told us she was a nerd and quiet on her first Biloxi trips, but even on those trips she was a tireless worker and always ready to work hard and sweat. This year Maggie and Caroline were making their own screens for the house on Seal, they got good direction from Mr. Gaffney, but every time I looked up they were working on their own, laughing and cranking out another completed screen. It is such a joy to see young women find their own path and their own talents on this trip. We give them some rope and let them try, yet more that 12 trips later, we are all still amazed at how far they come in a week. It is also great to see them as more than their original niche. Gretchen Graf is so much better than a Basketball or Volleyball star in Biloxi. Maggie has always been one of the smartest students I have taught in more than 20 years, but each Biloxi trip her academic successes seem smaller in context, when I have seen her do so much for others. Not only for the people of the Gulf Coast, but just as important for her sisters in our group.
I acknowledge that I am selfish in that I always pick a smart and capable student for my car. Essentially she runs all of the logistics of the trip while I concentrate on driving. Caroline was more than capable and sits with the very best on this trip who have ridden shotgun. Really shotgun for dozens of cars along the way. Usually I pick someone with a little bit of sass and believe me Caroline more than lived up to that standard also. I know that she is a wonderful person and I also know that I have not even seen her best and that is when she is loving and caring for her family. Every once in a while Caroline talks about some of the big obstacles in her family, but never allows herself a moment of pity. She turns these extraordinary acts of love and sacrifice into ordinary parts of her week. She even tried to jump out of the picture, because she wanted Hannah and Maggie to have their own breakfast.
10 hour drives are a little tough and grueling and each time I get out at the gas stations my old bones feel like they have never moved before. But if you told me 5 minutes after the 10 hours was over that I had to done another 10 hours with this trio, I would have paid you for the opportunity.
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