Tell me again why I am a school nurse? “JUNE, JULY and AUGUST.” No sane RN would do this job. It is kind of like having children, no one could prepare you for that long, treacherous journey of birthing them, changing diapers, feeding them in the middle of the night, the terrible two’s, the warm fuzzy moments when they smile at you and your heart immediately melts like marshmallow mush. Not all of us had or have cute children. Some animals eat their young…and that is why if we let them live…they owe us, big time!
Geese Louise; Monday was unbelievably busy. I am trying to stay afloat and they still keep asking for this-is and that’s. You’re killing me.
And then I had to eat humble pie…thought I had done something but didn’t. The wrong person had an A$$ chewing. Humble Pie is good for the soul; keeps me grounded when I have an elevated assumption of myself.
I live in a glass house, I can throw no stones.
All week I have had a heavy heart. I can’t make sense out of this crazy world in which I am finding myself in. It is NOT “Andy of Mayberry” anymore. Maybe it never was.
But I do remember playing outside in the rain, unlocked doors, swimming in the canals, smooching on the levy’s, driving up and down 10th Street, eating fresh hot corn dogs at Price’s Drive Inn, Bonham’s and Minimax Grocery Stores. I remember how much fun we had going to Klinck’s Drug Store and Hanshaw’s, and having burgers and fries at Faulkners and Mr. Q. All the kid’s in town went roller skating at the Chevy Rink, which was not air conditioned, they just opened the windows and we were fine. We played miniature golf at the Waugh’s on HWY BUS 83, and looked forward to their famous ice cold watermelon. It was common to have your birthday party there. Families loved to swim at the Cascade Pool. The high diving board was a blast. The Cascade Pool seemed so very big, might have been Olympic Sized back then. The deep end and the shallow end were distinctly different. The high dive was the best. Fun filled evenings going to little League ball games, catching the foul ball and receiving a snow cone as the prize. There used to be a small amusement park across from the old McAllen General Hospital, where City Hall stands today. It was a great place to have a birthday party; merry go round, Ferris wheel, little boat rides, a lot of laughter. The Place Theater was a favorite place for families to drop off their kids. A movie ticket cost 35 cents, maybe more to sit in the balcony. Life was simpler then. The lady in the ticket office would not hesitate to call your parents if you misbehaved. Slow pokes and Milk Duds were inexpensive, pickles cost 11 cents. Jones and Jones was known for their Patio Restaurant and style shows and delicious apple dumplings. The Fairway Motel had two swimming pools at either end. If you were one of the lucky kids you could get a burger and fries and charge it to dad. I remember going to church on Sundays, eating family meals, going to my grandmother’s house for holidays and playing with ALL our cousins. There were no cell phones or computers. Ed. Sullivan was our big night to watch TV, the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Elvis were popular then. Every year around Easter you could count on watching The Wizard of OZ. Oh, THAT witch was scary. Playing hide and seek and spotlight outside in the dark, hop scotch, jump rope and jacks kept us occupied. Life was simpler then.
What brought all this on? Revisiting the anniversary of 9/11, the daily news, The 13 year old boy found in a canal, in McAllen. Our school counselor said “no one knew him.” How very sad. Rude and disruptive kids in the classroom.
What is important? Spending time with your family and God. Getting to know your neighbors. Baking a batch of cookies. Walking barefoot in the grass. Have a little fun. Stay in touch with those you love. Make life simpler. Be grateful. Pause more often. Be still in your day. Turn the TV off. Take a walk. Give it all over to God; Repeat if necessary. Notice that there are still parents who care and students that are doing well. There is still goodness in our world. There is.
