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December 11, 2020
Dear Families,
I have been writing my weekly Family Letters since my first principal position in 2000. That is A LOT of letters. So why has it taken me so long to find Jake Daehler? Jake and Carmen are parents of Lennon in 8th grade and they are amazing PTA parents (Carmen is co-secretary and Jake is a member-at-large.) They had a wonderful adventure as one of the pie delivery teams and Jake’s story embodies the spirit of 75 Morton. It is a gesture like Friendsgiving Pies that says everything about a school - especially during this COVID pandemic. Please enjoy Jake’s story and feel free to share with friends - bragging that you are part of a parent body that can keep a staff going through love, humor and KINDNESS.
With Respect,
Jacqui
Easy As 3.14
Soberly reported by Jake Daehler (a 3-time NYC dad)
It was nearly noon on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and pies have been sorted, boxed and made ready for pick-up. Stella, PTA co-president of 75 Morton, a large, newly minted middle school, is standing by for the hand-off. 75 Morton has an electric energy that flows from the high-powered Principal, Jacqui Getz, and the staff, right through to the students and hyper-involved parent community. Stella masterminded today’s ambitious operation. With schools suddenly closed, the plan is to remind our wonderful teachers how much they’re appreciated by delivering a favorite pie right to their home … no matter how remote that home may be. Luckily for Stella and the other drivers, none of these aforementioned teachers live in Antarctica. Along with the big box containing multiple and varied pies, the PTA parent/deliverers are issued signs, turkey hats, highly detailed itineraries and directions. A lifelong I-dotter and T-crosser, Stella leaves nothing to chance. Her home is the hub: “Pie-Zero” as it’s surely to be known in the years to come.
By 1PM boxes are collected, staged photos snapped and seven cars fan out in all directions to spread cheer throughout the five boroughs and beyond! The Queens and Brooklyn drivers soon face the awed realization of just how enormous 1/5 of a town can be! Regardless, this crack team — several with offspring copilots — execute their task with military precision. Some teacher recipients are otherwise engaged or at large. For them, doormen act as pie-accepting seconds, who seem mostly pleased, if slightly confused. Those faculty members who are handed their pie in person are all smiles and only too happy to pose for photographic documentation.
The entire event was Grinch-free, other than one porch-pirate foiled when teacher Brooke made it downstairs just in time to save her pie. Another teacher, Melissa “had no idea a gluten free vegan pie could be so yummy!” Nicole experienced “quite possibly one of the best apple pies in the whole wide world!” Danielle sent a picture of her “son, William enjoying his gluten free pumpkin pie,” and added “it’s hard to find good pies near where I live so thank you for giving us one!” Katie, assistant principal, loved her “delicious kosher pie,” and went on, “Dear PTA, there aren’t enough words to express my gratitude. What you pulled off was nothing short of miraculous. You made every single staff member feel loved and appreciated. I told my entire family what you did and they were speechless. You’re one of the reasons we’re such a successful school.” Donna saw receiving her pie as “a symbol of why I teach middle school — sweet, beautiful & surprising!” Beverly Buscemi, eighth grade parent and co-deliverer said, “I got as much out of it as the teachers did!,” a sentiment Amen’d by all drivers and kids. By 5PM, most teachers were united with their gift, cars were parked, families home, mission accomplished. High-fives all around!
At 6:29PM, a puzzling text pinged on the phone of a pie-deliverer. At 2:40PM, poised to hand over her penultimate pie, she had sent this text to the intended recipient: “Hi Samuel, Carmen & Jake here, parents of Lennon in 831. We’re almost there! We have your sweet potato pie. I’ll text you again when we’re in front of your building.” Seven minutes later, she added, “we’re here.”
Pie in hand, Jake entered the building and knocked on the door. For added security, Stella had written the name of each pie’s recipient clearly on the box. Jake felt certain he couldn’t screw this up. At his knock a medium-size dog began an enthusiastic fit of barking and a thirty-something man opened the door. He said the dog wouldn’t bite, “he just really takes his watchdog job seriously.” Jake presented Sam his pie then explained it was a gift of appreciation from the PTA. He then knelt and vigorously scratched the barking dog’s belly and head, telling him he was “the bestest guard dog ever!” Not easily seduced, the pooch answered with a renewed salvo of apoplectic barks and growls. Sam seemed genuinely moved by the gift and concluded the encounter with a heartfelt thanks and goodbye. It couldn’t have gone better.
Three hours and thirty-four minutes later, Carmen checks the source of her ping. A text response from Sam: “So sorry I missed this! You guys are so sweet for driving around and delivering sweetness. Let me know if there is anyway I could pick it up. Have an amazing day! You rock!”
PANIC! Did we have the wrong address? Did we text the wrong person? Jake is already over-reacting. “Stella wouldn’t make a mistake like that! I went to the right building and the right apartment. It has to be him! But okay, if I messed up I’ll buy another pie and we can take it to him tomorrow. I’m goin’ back to that other apartment though, and get whatever’s left of Sam’s pie! Wait a minute. It said ‘Sam’ on the box for Christ’s sake! What kind of person would knowingly accept a pie that didn’t belong to him?!” “Calm down!” says Carmen, the mature member of the couple. “In the first place you can’t get the pie back, you ridiculous person!” COVID. Duh! “I just checked the address and it’s correct. Texting him now.” “Sam, we dropped off the pie at apartment 1R. The guy seemed grateful but we didn’t confirm that he was indeed you! He has an excitable little dog! Oh my gosh I hope we didn’t go to the wrong place? In Queens? Please let me know!” Seconds later, Sam’s reply pings in. “Nope that’s it! That’s my best friend! He didn’t text me about it so I wasn’t sure. Thank you so much!” Carmen answers, “Wow, what a relief! We were ready to deliver another pie tomorrow. My husband really liked meeting the little doggie. Happy Thanksgiving!” Sam responds, “Oh no, wow you are all so sweet. Thank you so much! Happy Thanksgiving!”
A little while later came the epilogue. “So … my best friend’s name is also Sam and he teaches middle school, too. He was absolutely convinced it was his pie from his school’s PTA. He took pictures, sent messages to our friend chat, bragged in his work chat and called his mom. He had finished the last meeting of a long day and it seemed like destiny to receive an unsolicited pie for his efforts. The laugh we just had about the whole situation and how things played out was unforgettable. So many coincidences had to happen for that to work. Forever in your debt. Not just for the pie delivery, but also the amazing story. Thank you!”
Carmen answers, “OMG!! That’s hilarious. Poor ‘other Sam.’ Tell him, ‘we at 75 Morton appreciate him as well.’ Hopefully you’ll share some of your pie.”
The next day Principal Jacqui thanked the PTA for going above and beyond “to make our exceptional and brave teachers feel loved.”
Educators — at all levels — are among the under valued, under-appreciated heroes of our age. With this tiny gesture, 75 Morton’s PTA helped reset the bar. C’mon everybody everywhere, let’s raise it higher, together!