the day after the birthday

Taking on the advice of many slicers, I'll continue with my 50th birthday celebrations. First of all thank you, thank you for the kind wishes. I felt the warmth. The day after has turned out to be super sweet. 

Entering my classroom this morning I had a surprise waiting for me, a vase with tulips, a handmade card, a bowl with strawberries, and a strawberry cake one friend had made.  Even before I had time to turn on the lights and take off my coat, the two friends responsible for the surprise entered my room and sang to me. Hugs followed. 

Other teachers followed with more hugs, more cards, more flowers, more good wishes, chocolate, tea and candy. The school gave me a cheese basket as a gift. 

The kids arrived one by one and they too had orgnised a surprise for me. They brought several giraffe themed gifts - a cup, a beaded giraffe head, a stuffed giraffe (to add to our class animals), a pocket mirror with a giraffe on the cover,  a card with a dancing giraffe and a small self-written picture book about how our class adopted a dancing baby giraffe as a class pet. I have mentioned giraffes, and dancing giraffes, a few times (it could be that more than a few times over the several months of school), and somebody obviously remembered.

As my gift to my colleagues and students I shared lots of candy, a tradition from the time I used to be a student. 

There is also no doubt about my identity. I am Terje, the dancing giraffe, and as you can see form the card a beautiful and graceful one.