Memories #1

I thought I'd start a series called "Memories."  That brilliant idea was all well and good.  I started by writing down my short list of memories to share with the world.  Lists give me the allusion of being organized.  This short list grew to 25 memories in less than 5 minutes.  At that point, I realized that we must create sub-categories under the main "Memories" title.

As an example, most of us were born and led lives around the house for a few years.  This was followed by introduction to public schools - not all of us get to go to private schools and wear ugly uniforms.  My elementary school years were followed immediately by my junior high years.  I've noticed that most people don't get to take long, yearly vacations between elementary and junior high.

An aside:  when I was coming through the school systems, we had junior high schools, grades 7 -8 - 9.  Some brilliant person made up a theory that grouping 6-7-8 together was better for the psychology of the little unwashed mind.  This was probably done in a Doctoral Dissertation by a doctoral candidate who had never been a classroom.  Eventually, another theorist figured out that grades 1-2-3 should be separate from 4-5-6, so we created another level of elementary.  Only larger schools have the luxury of that type of division.

As a band teacher, I had a high school band consisting of only grades 10 through 12 and, later, another school with grades 9 through 12.  Eliminating the 9th grade student from the actual high school makes teaching easier - for me - in band.  A junior high band of 8th and 9th graders is so much better than 7 - 8.  [ I realize that I am bogging down here. ]  If you can isolate grades 5 and 6 and 7 from 8th graders, your life is more pleasant.  8th graders start thinking they are adults.  They're not.  Having a separate 9th grade center for mush minds would have been so nice.   But, I digress.

So, right there you have it:   Sub-category:   birth / toddler / pre-school / elementary school / junior high school / high school / college years / dating / advanced college degree / summer working jobs / our wedding year / early marriage years / 1st teaching position / oh, the lists, the lists.  

I taught 38 normal years - AND - while in college, sub taught one junior high while their new director was moving to town - & - as a graduate student, I sub taught another school for a band director that went into an institution ( this school was a true eye opener for me regarding worthless students - I thought I had died and ended up in the backwoods of Kentucky teaching frogs ) - and I taught 2 schools after retirement (one of those for a lady band director that went bonkers - it happens a lot in my world).

Sub headings - Sub headings - I don't think I can list them all here.  So this is Memories #1 blog.  It has stirred lots of memories for me and left you nothing but casual thoughts.

I will leave you with this.  You listening to memories by an 80 year old guy (almost me) are essentially the same as being stuck in a small room in front of a fireplace with an old guy who just won't shut up talking about himself and his own great accomplishments and his old friends or foes. 

The big Blackout ... 9-11 ...Welcome Back Kotter ... Star Wars beginning and ending ... Panchos ... Rafael Mendez ... Levelland & Lubbock Drive-Ins ... Flash Gordon ... Sonny West ... Phone calls ... South Pacific ... Roots ... JFK assassination ... Beatles ... summer trips ... Mickey Mouse Club ... Sudan ... Ardmore ... Tascosa ... Timberlawn ... Van Alstyne ... Gainesville ... Manor ... 

Too many to list.  So you say, "Stop telling us what you are going to do; do it."   It reminds me of a line that Tim Lautzenheiser use to say:  "Don't tell me you are a good kisser; show me."  I do love Tim and his sayings (look him up on google). Next time, I'll pick a subject and expound.  Look for Memories #2.

We shall move on.  Lunch time.  Lunch always comes before writing.

mtz