The End of Another School Year

2 1/2 days left of this school year! I won't have to get up early to take one grandchild to school, or pick three grandchildren up and 3 :00 and 3:30. But...I will have three here all day most every day.

I remember the last few days of school when I was a kid. Especially the last day. Why did the clock all of a sudden stop working? One minute it was 2:45 and five minutes later it was 2:46. Every kid in every seat was eyeing the clock, waiting, waiting....then FREEDOM! I suppose the teachers were saying stuff like, "Have a nice summer, remember to take everything with you, blah, blah, blah." We were gone in an instant and heard nothing, nada, zilch. Ah...no more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks. 6 weeks later we were all bored out of our gourds.

Both of my parents worked so it fell to us kids to find stuff to do and stay out of trouble. Well....sometimes the two went hand in hand. Like the day I came home from the pool and found my brother and my nephew, (who happens to be older than me,) and some of their friends on top of our house. They had dragged Dad's ladder from the shed and climbed up on the roof. It looked like fun to me and I asked if I could climb up. They refused so I did what all good little girls do....I threatened to tell Dad if they didn't let me up there. (There was probably some tears, too, but I don't remember that.) They finally consented to let me up on the roof and what a sight. Everything looked different from way up there, even though it was a one-storey house. My brother said he was going to get something to drink and climbed down. Same with my nephew. The other boys left too, so it was just me, up on the roof, all by myself. It didn't take long to realize the ladder was not leaning up against the house; I was stuck up there. The boys had moved the ladder and left me stranded.

I'm sure the neighbors could hear me screaming at my brother and nephew. Finally my screams turned to tears and pleas. Nothing. I waited for what seemed like hours. I would switch from crying to yelling, from pleading to threats. Finally, they put the ladder back and I climbed down. They gave me some candy and pop, and then threatened me. ME!! Like it was MY fault. I never did tell Dad. I learned my lessons well...I had five older brothers!

Walnut Middle School is losing one of their greatest this year. Mrs. Deuel is retiring after decades of giving to the students of Grand Island. Walnut had their band concerts last night so I was able to get a photo of her and my granddaughter. She will be missed and I wish her the very best in her "retirement." I wish the best for Dan too (grin).

Happy Summer, all.

Namárië