18 years as a geriatrician and I never knew the correlation between Alzheimer’s disease, and some forms of dementia, and the behavior of 3 year olds. And, when I think I am having a lighting bolt original thought I find out that the conference which drew me to Boston and the 3 year olds had a presenter who had studied using Montessori techniques with Alzheimer’s patients. And in all these years of working with mentally frail elderly that had never occurred to me.

Priscilla Beaujean Howland, my college roommate, is a gifted teacher. The students are so blessed to have her as one of their first models for life guidance. She is one of those pure souls who always seek goodness and kindness and know how to extract positives from those with whom they come in contact.

The theme for the day was turtles. Hidden  3” x 5 “ turtles in an Easter egg variety of colors that blended in, and became camouflaged turtles to hunt and hord in pretent briefcases. Turtle zig saw puzzles.  Match-face-with-body puzzles. Books. Songs. Rubber turtles for the water table, the play dough table (full of green, glittered play dough)

Great lesson in life. Focus. Learn all you can about one thing. Understand how interrelated it all is anyway. And be excellent at what it is you choose to do.