(Please don’t forget the Amazon Bishop Maginn Afghan refugee Christmas Toy Wish List going up on my blog tomorrow morning. We Need To Move Fast. Thanks.)

A mob turned out to take Maria’s sewing machine class at Bishop Maginn High School this afternoon.  Most were turned away for now.

Three new Singer sewing machines arrived yesterday, and Sue Silverstein picked out five girls in her art class to help unpack the machines and set them up and work with Maria, who volunteered to come.

At least four boys asked to be next in line to learn, which surprised Sue. The girls said they would be happy to teach them after Maria showed them. There are some powerful women in that class, including the teacher.

Maria seemed to be having as much fun as they did. She is a natural teacher, patient, clear and supportive.

She went from machine to machine, spotting problems, showing them how to manage the device, encouraging them, and supporting them. It was, to me, a remarkable scene. Their enthusiasm wore her out, and that is not easy to do.

These girls were eager to learn how to sew to help their mothers and brothers, and sisters. They are especially eager to learn how to make clothes and how to repair them. They also hope to make a few quilts for the new Afghan refugees, but I suspect that will come later. First things first.

Sue wants to start small and build up, and that seemed like a good idea.

Maria was enthralled but exhausted,  (I spent an hour or so interviewing Jasmine, a senior who spent some time in a homeless shelter and a couple of years in a girls’ home before coming to Bishop Maginn High School two years ago. Next year, she’s going to college on a full scholarship. I bought her an instant digital camera made by Fuji and some film paper. She is a remarkable person, and I’m going to write about her when we get past this week. More Bishop Maginn magic), and also eager to keep her class going.

Lots of lessons in that school that have to do with life, not just academics.

Maria was impressed with her students. She seemed happy and in her element. She wrote about them on her blog.

They were really into it, she said; they cared. They want to learn to sew. She really wanted to teach.

She hopped from one to another, moving each one along, giving them pointers and suggestions. She was patient, supportive, and straightforward. Three boys sat down at the end of the hour, and the girls took over the teaching. We had to go.

Zinnia was stellar and calm as usual.

There were a  of people in that room watching, and hundreds of packages donated for the Aghan refugees and the free store lined the walls. Sue kept people in check, but it was a great test of Maria’s focus and concentration.

She passed with flying colors; Sue said she wanted to offer Maria a permanent teaching job. No way. Maria does not love children in the way Sue Silverstein does; she loves making art. And Catholic school teachers make less than artists, which is pathetic.

But she is coming back to the class next Tuesday.

People from all over the country are besieging Sue with offers of sewing help. I got an e-mail from Elizabeth, a librarian in Houston, Texas. “I am excited about the sewing machines for the Bishop Maginn students,” she wrote. “I would like to help in some way. I have sewn and quilted for many decades and know various supplies will be needed to give the students a chance to explore their creativity with fabric.”

Maria told me that she would need more sewing supplies on the way home, and I went back and re-read Elizabeth’s letter.

“Below are a list of things I could purchase,” she said. The list included a hard storage case for the machines (we have three so far), packages of sewing machine needles, extra bobbins, thread in various colors, thread snips, scissors, seam/stitch rippers for stitches that need to be removed, and cleaning brushes for lint removal.”

Maria was impressed. “She mentioned everything I thought we would need to teach the class,” she said. So we both wrote back to Elizabeth, accepting her generous offer. I reminded her that if she spends a lot of money, the school will send her a receipt for a tax exemption on the cost.

Elizabeth is the real deal.

If we needed anything else,” she wrote back, “tell me what is needed. Grace and Peace, Elizabeth.” And grace and peace to you, my dear. You have a huge heart, as so many librarians do.

How can I be sour and pessimistic in the face of people who are as good as that.

Sue Silverstein said she is getting offers of help from all over the country; we are trying to sift through them and figure out what we need. The sewing idea has taken hold, and Maria is committed to committing to the school every week with me until her students know how to sew. They are quick learners, she said; she’s optimistic. And the boy’s interest is intriguing.

We get the sense these kids very much want to help their parents, especially their mothers, who sew all the time to make things they can’t afford to buy.

It was fun having her there with Zinnia and me; I’ll interview different students and teachers while she teaches sewing. We will share both of our experiences.

And what can I say about Zinnia, the most genial and chill dog on the planet?

Sue is her official godmother, she has known and loved Zinnia from the day I brought her to the school for therapy training when she was just a few months old. When she sees Sue in the school doorway, she comes charging over, running as fast as she can, which is not all that fast. These two have bonded for life and always manage a kiss-a-thon.

Sue and Zinnia re-unite every single week. I love seeing that.

Zinnia is infinitely patient with the students, who pat, poke and yell at her for attention. Many sneak her bits of their lunch.

Many try to train her. Some are terrified of dogs, but she seems to pick them off one at a time and turn them around.

Zinnia also always seems to know who needs some attention and a smile. She stays calm amidst all the chaos and noise and it seems as if she has lived in the school for much of her life. What a good idea to train her there.

So the sewing experiment is underway I see this is a very valuable thing to these students, refugees and otherwise. It will be especially interesting to see the Afghan student’s interest when they show up in the coming weeks, as expected.

The early word is that their families sew all the time, and this could be another valuable thing for them to learn.

We are all surprised and taken aback by the intense interest out there in sewing. It seems to touch something deep in the American heart. We respect that and will act accordingly. In the meantime, if there is some help you wish to offer, you can contact Sue Silverstein at [email protected] or Maria and [email protected].

They will help you. And I thank you. This was a great day for our work. We’re heading back next Tuesday and I can’t wait to share my interview with college-bound Jasmine. It is a remarkable story of courage and strength. (Notice her sitting calmly under the table. Maria didn’t even know she was there.

Don’ forget the toys for the Amazon refugees tomorrow. I’ll put up a link to the wish list in the morning, we have to move quickly to get the toys here by Christmas. Grace and peace to you.