Some Gentle Thought...

School is starting and another year of educating the minds of American children is upon us. We got a package from my mother today with all kind of school supplies for my grandson. His mother is sewing patches of his school on new shirts. Soon moms will sigh a brief relief that they made it through vacation, summer camp, and swimming lessons.

Alright enough… Why is this motorcycle parked in this handicapped unload zone. HELLO Mister… some wheelchair vans need that area for their ramps to come down and allow their passengers room to get out. I guess it is a new form of education. This poor fellow decided that while he was doing a week of remodeling at his home he would park his car in this spot day and night, night and day. I understand that it may not be known to all people that the stripped areas beside handicapped spots look odd. This individual said, “No one uses this spot so I may as well leave my motorcycle here for a week or so. How nice of this place to provide this spot just for me!”

Okay Jon...Enough of that! Take a deeeeeep breath … inhale... exhale...

Yes, this is the time of year for the trees to start to hear the call of fall (I still can’t figure out why he parked there!) and the evenings too have a touch of chill in the air. (Some people! How am I going to get my morning, or afternoon Starbucks coffee…? Or for that matter my evening decaf coffee?) Friday night football games will begin in a week and band member are practicing their tunes. (Hope he gets a ticket. Maybe it will get towed) I love this time of year.

School is never over in life is it!

Memories

If it is true that we are the sum of our past experience tonight reminded me of how blessed my life has been. At the corner of Park and Second, in the little town of Barberton Ohio a group of old high school friends gathered to drink a little, eat a little and enjoy being with one another a lot. How blessed I was to see people I went to school with. The girls are just as beautiful and the guys just as fun loving as ever. We laugh, told stories of our lives and just had fun.

It has been 39 years since I said goodbye to high school and 39 years since I have seen these dear friends. Yes my life’s course was set in motion my senior year at Coventry when a cute little girl tripped over my crutch at a basketball game and Mr. Lee tossed me out of the gym. From that brief moment the stars lined up the angles sang and love bloomed, the same love that flowered into a friendship, a marriage, a son, and a grandson.

Will I ever go back to the corner of Park and Second? Time will tell for this old guy… But one more time I have to say:

Hail to thee, our Alma Mater,
True we'll always be.
Praise thy name with reverent voices,
For each memory.
For our high school raise your voices,
Speed them on the gale! (Never did understand that line)
Ever stand, our Alma Mater.
Coventry High, all hail!

Oh Kathy, I still say she said she married and 85 year old. You go Carol!