At recess duty this week I was grabbed from behind in a giant hug. I twisted around to see one of my first grade students from last year. This student is pure bottled sunshine. She dances through life with a smile on her face, a positive attitude, and a never-ending stream of chatter. “Oh, K,” I said, “That’s my second K hug in one day!  What a lucky day!”

Arms still wrapped around my waist, she declared, “Mrs. Hogan, you’re my almost bestest teacher!”

“Almost bestest?” I queried.

“Yes,” she said, “Cause I don’t  know yet.” And then she added, as though stating the obvious, “I don’t know yet if you’re the bestest yet cause I’m still in school.” She paused, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Maybe when I’m in 8th grade, I’ll know.”

“Well,” I said, “Be sure to let me know.”

She bounced away, off to play with her classmates, calling back over her shoulder, “I will….if I see you.”

Smiling, I watched her dance away, and soon after, headed back to the classroom, determined to do my bestest.