Greetings and Conversations...

I am very happy I that I avoided establishing this blog as some daily musing on my part. Even if it were a weekly venture, I would be deemed a dismal failure. Time and the other demands of my job always seem to get the better of me. It's not that I do not have ideas to share or things to say; I often wake up in the night and process weighty topics worthy of this space. Somehow those ideas never make it to the blog in a timely fashion. All I can do is try to be a bit more regular in posting comments and ideas or get up at 3:00 AM and write a post!

One thing I have been thinking about lately was prompted by several recent inquiries by parents. They asked why I am often seen standing out in front of the school nearly every morning (I tend to draw the line on windy, rainy mornings!). In response, I often joke that it is my way of preparing for my dream job when I retire...to be a greeter at Walmart! The real answer, however, is quite simple. I enjoy greeting the students as they arrive to begin their day, yawning from lack of sleep, grumpy at the perceived inconvenience of having to rise at such an early hour in order to learn, and most often armed with a Dunkin' Donuts' latte, hot chocolate, or an occasional iced coffee. I wish them a "good morning", compliment them on a great game played the previous day, or thank them for coming to school on time. I almost always get a "good morning" in return and, more often than not, a smile thrown in for extra measure. For those of you who are intimately familiar with adolescents, that is no small feat at 7:25 AM!!

I also enjoy waving to all of the loving, supportive parents who also rise at an inconvenient hour to brave the cold, the traffic congestion, and the aforementioned grumpy adolescent, in order to further their child's education by depositing him or her at our door. We provide free bus service but most parents prefer to drive their children to school. There is something special about that despite the traffic headache it frequently causes. I think it is one of the many things that sets Chatham apart from other schools and communities. It's all about family.

So, if parents are willing to make that sacrifice to drop their children off, I can certainly find the time to spend a few minutes outside greeting them as they arrive. Actually, except on really cold days when I lose sensation in my toes, I really do enjoy it. In many ways, it is a great way for me to start my day. Now, should the bitter cold morning ever come when a student steps out of a vehicle and hands me a small coffee, black-no sugar, that will definitely make my day!