Back to School

-
The years pass quickly, don't they?

I recall being excited to return to school for the start of the 9th grade because I had a brand new Bills shirt that I could wear on the first day.

Sam is starting 9th grade this year. My last kid in high school.

He isn't excited for any of it.

He has plenty of Bills shirts.

Yet there's a sadness when the kids return to school and Camp Clifford closes up for the year. I had been able to leave a few instructions for them as they stayed home all summer and Sam usually worked to get the every day tasks started at least, and Jake mowed the lawn at a rather leisurely pace.

Now they will be talking homework.

Kathy will have to force them to get to it.

Arguments will ensue about their chance to get it done in study hall.

There will be missed assignments.

There will be days when I get this message:

"Going to __________ after school. Can you pick me up?"

And the days will pass quickly.

What do I recall about 9th grade?

Algebra...for the first time...not knowing what the hell was up there or why they'd mess up perfectly good numbers with letters.

Crushes...on girls...and wondering why they were suddenly as important as sports.

It's taken awhile to figure that one out...

...I'll let you know.

The future...knowing that the grades meant more in high school...my parents telling me to work harder so I could get into a good college.

Yet thinking back, I know that there will be time.

Even as Matt starts his last year of college, and Jake starts his final year of high school.

There will be time for them to figure it out a little.

It doesn't have to be all angst, all the time, for kids.

"Why didn't you empty the laundry basket?" I asked Sam one day last week.

"I'm enjoying my childhood," he said.

Matt had said that for years and years and years.

I'm glad that they've been able to do that.

There are a lot of the other kind of days.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suits

-
Like a lot of other people we got pulled into the series, ‘Suits’ on Netflix. I’ve never had much fun hanging around lawyers who have questioned me as a construction safety officer. I once testified in a case where the opposing lawyer started questioning me by going through my educational background. “So,” he said, racing to a crescendo, “You graduated from college with a degree in Communications-Journalism and suddenly, 30 years later, you’re a ‘safety expert.’” He actually made the quotation marks with his fingers. I just looked at him. “How does that happen?” He bellowed, sure that he was going to discredit me. “Well,” I said. “I knew I was overqualified to become a lawyer.” The courtroom erupted in laughter. Even the judge chuckled. The rest of his questions landed flat. So, I wasn’t all that keen on a show about lawyers, but ‘Suits’ is great. Meghan Markle became a princess because of the show, and she is very good in it (and a beautiful woman). Yet, there is so much more. The wri
Read more

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I bet you tha
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C’mon, Oliver,”
Read more