Happy summer to all of you.Even though the days are long and hot, the wonderful early morning hours are a joy to behold. In all my years on this little planet we call Earth there is still nothing that equals being outdoors on a predawn August morning in Turlock.
Item 1: Things you don’t see every day. I was walking my lovely Zoey the other morning when a well dressed man stepping rather proudly and boldly was approaching us coming from the other direction. As usual, I flashed my Portuguese smile and gave him a hello nod with my well worn walking stick I salvaged from the North Fork of the Yuba River several years ago. He gave me the merest inkling of a smile and continued on his way.
I told you this because of what the man was proudly wearing.I do not need to remind you that there may have been a few times when I embellished my stories just a bit. After all, I did learn from the master. But this is not one of those times. The gentleman described was sporting a full set of bright green tartan kilts, with matching white knit hose adorned with the proper tassels and all the other kilt accessories. The only thing missing was a set of bag pipes and a bright tam. It was eight o’clock in the morning and I had no idea where he was heading and I could not recall any Scottish events or get togethers that were scheduled in Turlock. I turned around to watch him saunter pass me, scratched my head and continued my morning walk.
Item 2: Just this week I was walking past the middle school and it was the big sign up day for the students to get their necessary junior high information for the coming school year.I watched hundreds of students get in various long lines to be issued their various books and informational packets.
I realized that the school year August 2015-August 2016 was the first year since 1986 I had not stepped into a classroom as a substitute teacher. I have taught thousands of students and spent hundreds of days and thousands of hours in the classroom.
Where did the time go? I did feel a bit guilty last year not going into the classroom. Sometimes I would receive a phone call from a teacher I had subbed for many times in the past and I would politely decline. At 5:30 A.M. every morning the Automated Sub System would begin dialing my home phone number offering various sites that needed a substitute teacher. I did not say yes once.
In January of last year I began to feel more comfortable not accepting jobs and finally in March I gave my notice. The world did not end, the sun continued to rise every morning and the Turlock schools were more than able to get along without me. There were many friendships I will have left behind and my heart is saddened that I may not see these teachers again. It was a good run and I am glad I did it.
There are folks out there who believe that it is really a simple matter to walk into a classroom of 25-30 students with twenty minutes of preparation, do a good job of instructing, and maintain good classroom behavior. After all they are “just kids.” Well, it is rewarding but it can be and is extremely taxing and difficult.
Item 3: False advertising: With our grandchildren coming to stay in Turlock over the summer and spending more time swimming Sheila and I thought it might be a good investment to buy an inexpensive pool cover. We do love our pool but even on the hottest days the pool will reach about 83 degrees and then by late afternoon and the shadows appear it drops back down to the chilly 70’s. Even the grand children find it a bit chilly.
I went to the local Leslie’s Pool Service just down the road. I entered and inside the store was an area containing several rolled up plastic pool covers.There were different sizes to fit the various pools. I selected our size and asked the salesperson how much warmer our pool would get by using the pool cover. He told us to expect about a five degree increase in warmth. That was good enough for me. I gave him the $165 dollars and raced home to put it on the pool before the grandchildren showed up. P.S. The pool was 80 degrees at the time.
The grandchildren made it over about two o’clock and Sheila and I made a grand production about the pool cover and how the kids could now swim well into the late evening without getting frost bite. Sheila and I unraveled the huge plastic tarp, rolled it up and I quickly checked the thermometer. It read 93 degrees.The water was like a bath tub. I looked at Sheila smiled and said, “We could have done this 35 years ago!”. The grandchildren stayed in until their little bodies became wrinkled and prune like. Sheila goes out every night at about eight o’clock. We pull back the cover and Sheila jumps into the 90 degree water and does her laps. After her laps are done, she exits the pool smiling, not shivering, and asked, “Why didn’t we do this thirty years ago?” We are happy customers.
Item 4: Time to get serious. I would like to sweeten the pot in our search for new Welcome Column Writers. It has been a year since I gave my notice and well you know the rest. I am offering a best selling “Fog Valley Drifters” CD signed by my enclosed with an 8X10 glossy photograph of yours truly if you are ready to take over his Friday slot. My email address is: brooksjudd@yahoo.com. To sweeten the pot further I WON’T send a CD or a 8X10 glossy photograph if you respond by the middle of September.
Until I get your e-mail:
Read a book, hug a child, pet a dog, stroke a cat, eat a bar of chocolate and IKIRU!