A familiar face in a different light

Even though I have been married for almost 38 years, today I saw my husband in an entirely new way.

Because of the nature of our jobs, we rarely see each other in our unique workplaces.  Because I am a high school principal, he really has no reason to come to my school, except when he chooses to attend one of our events.

During the school year, I am rarely home in the evening, attending theatrical productions; band, choir or orchestra concerts; or one of our 27 varsity sports.

Because he enjoys watching football, and because we do not see each other for dinner on Friday nights, he walks the two miles to my building and sits in the stands for our home games.  I know his seat or row and am able to look in the stands, catch his eye and wave.  I love the familiarity of his face.

Today was different.  He started the day at our district's technology center as a guest speak for the Chinese I classes.  We teach Chinese I in a blended format with one teacher for the first period beginning Chinese classes.  Having made four trips to China on business as an automotive test engineer, he presented a Powerpoint with photographs and videos from his trip.

Next, he traveled to one of our district middle schools for their Career Day.  One of the standouts of the visit is the crash dummy he brings, this time wearing one of the school's shirts.  The middle school students also love the crash videos and learn much about the automotive engineering career field.

Small child crash dummy.

And then, for the first time, he traveled to my high school to give a presentation in person to the higher levels of Chinese about his business trips to China.

And so, there he was, signing into our building as per as security procedures and stopping by my office before the presentation to our students.  On a daily basis I meet with a variety of parents and staff in my office, but as I sat and talked to him about our days, it was different.

He looked so much different than he usually did if we were talking at home about our day.

As he left with the teacher to make sure the presentation would work in the classroom my mental notes were taking in his shirt, his shoes and his very kind and caring nature he shows to everyone he meets.  I just don't tell him that enough.

About 10 minutes into the class period, I decided to go visit the class and sit in on the presentation.

And that is where I really saw it, a familiar face, but in a very unique light.  His patient voice now instructing our students, pausing to answer their questions as he sometimes would our daughter when helping with her homework.

As he went from one slide to another, viewing his photos and videos, he brought to life the bullet train, the foods and the Chinese companies as only he could.

Husband giving presentation to Chinese class students.

A guest speaker is certainly not an oddity in a high school today.  But when the guest speaker is your spouse, in the building in which you are the principal, you look at them differently.

And today, I saw all of those good qualities that reinforced why I married him and hadn't thought of recently, including that he is bright, patient, enthusiastic about learning, kind and willing to serve others.

Sometimes we just need to see a familiar face in a different light to see and reinforce all the reasons they are special in our lives.