It was early September. The sun was bright in the dark blue sky, not a cloud in sight. I was mowing the lawn, and Mark had went to town for an appointment. Kate was staying after school for cross country practice. Life was good!
I was making a turn in the west brome patch when I looked up and saw five boys running past. I stopped the mower and went to stand beside the gravel road. Soon here came five girls, and I quickly spotted our Kate! Their pony tails flying in the breeze. Their arms bent at the elbow. Their feet hitting the ground in rhythm. Once in a while, I heard a word or two come from them in short breaths; otherwise, all that could be heard was their feet hitting the gravel. On they went past our mailbox, across the little bridge and on up the hill and out of sight. I waited for a bit longer and another group came. They kept coming until I thought there was no more. I took one more look to the west and up on the top of the hill I spotted a single figure. I waited for him to pass by. He was behind them all, but I learned a lesson from this young man. He never gave up. He was always determined to finish, even if he came in last.
I waited for him to pass by. I raised my hand and waved at him. "I admire you, I hope you know!" I hollered as he passed me by, raising his hand in a wave. On he went, past our mailbox, across the little bridge and up the hill and out of sight. Soon after he was out of sight, here came the coach's white van, slowly driving by. They were headed to hand out water and running tips, I was quite sure!
I went back to the mower and continued mowing the west brome patch. That was the cross country team of our school. They would run for four plus miles every night and on Saturdays mornings. Many times, they would choose to go past our farm. I loved it, because I loved those kids. They were an inspiration to me!
No, we didn't need to worry about Kate becoming bored after Bret went away to college. She threw herself into school and activities. She loved competing. She loved to encourage her classmates. She was becoming more outgoing. That little girl of ours that use to be so bashful. She was now in sports, Scholars Bowl, student council, Forensics, and whatever other group or activity seemed to come her way. Sometimes I was concerned that it was too big of a load, but she seemed to be handling it well.
That night Kate announced that their first cross country meet was going to be a week from Saturday. It was on a tough golf course with lots of big hills to climb.
"Can we go watch?" I asked Mark.
"It would be fun, but I can't. You could though."
"Super, I'll drive, but I suppose you have to take the bus, right Kate?"
"Yeah, we will leave around 9."
That night in bed I turned to Mark, "You know, I have been thinking about something."
"Now that is scary!" was his answer.
"Since Bret is gone to college, I have been thinking about working at the school as a para. You know, helping special ed children."
"You mean full time?"
"Yeah, I'd be up there with Kate and home early enough to do the chores. I'd be home on week ends. What do you think?"
"I'll have to give that one some thought. You know I don't like sharing you with anybody don't you? I really do need your help on the farm! But I can tell it would mean a lot to you," Mark said rolling over and taking me in his arms.
"Thanks honey," I said snuggling up to my best friend in the world.
There was a light cloud cover on Saturday. It was a bit on the cool side when I drove Kate to the school. The buses were waiting, their motors running. Boys and girls were getting out of cars all over the parking lot. Kate grabbed her back pack out of the back seat and gave me a fast hug and was gone.
"Have fun! I'll be watching!" I hollered out the window to her back as she walked briskly away from me.
The golf course was beautiful. All green and neat. Trees stood here and there. There were yellow school buses everywhere and little striped tent tops being set up all around the course. Girls and boys were milling around, some doing stretches, some just talking, some sitting under the tents.
I made my way to the spot that I was sure was Kate's team tent. Sure enough, there were the kids and their bus driver, Judy. I would just stick with her. She was not only the bus driver, she was their cheerleader! I loved Judy and her "get up and go". She never sat still.
"Hi Carrie," I heard from across the way. I looked and there was Mary's mom.
"Hi! Are you here to cheer them on too?" I asked waving to her.
"Sure am! And my hubby came too. Couldn't miss the first meet!"
"Mark would have came, but he had something he had to get done today."
Judy came up to the starting line, driving a golf cart. That was going to be our transportation as we were the cheerleaders! FUN! The boys would start first. They would run three miles, the girls two.
It was getting about time. The coach's were giving last minute instructions. The boys went to the starting line. They stood there in position, waiting for the gun to go off. The girls stood off to the side a bit...waiting, anxious to get started but a little nervous. Some were running in place, some were bent over doing the last stretch. One or two took a fast sip from the water bottle, then threw it on the ground. You could see the anxiety written across their faces. I spotted Kate. She looked a bit nervous for sure.
BANG..the boys were off! You could hear feet pounding the ground as their backs disappeared down behind the hill. The girls were getting in line now. Some bent slightly at the waist, ready to take off. Some rubbed their hand down their shorts. All stood there close together,one foot back of the other waiting for that gun.
BANG! They were off. You could hear the pounding of feet as they too disappeared around the corner and down the hill.
"Jump on girls! We're off!" Judy hollered.
Off we went! Bouncing up over the hill and around the corner, holding on for dear life. Judy could drive and fast. We sped past the girls and then the boys and on to the end of the one mile. Jumping off, we waited. As the kids came panting past us, we shouted, "GIVE IT YOUR BEST GUYS! COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT! COME ON LADY TIGERS!"
Over and over we would shout, until about the last one passed us. Then, back in the golf cart we would get and off again at high speed. Half way into the second mile for the girls, we stopped again.
"YOU'RE DOING GREAT! WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT! WE'RE BEHIND YOU! LETS GO! COME ON YOU'RE ABOUT THERE!
As they came across the finish line one by one, they were exhausted! Some of the boys appeared to me to be plumb green in the face, and some were even puking! They were all bent over at the waist, gasping for air. I felt so sorry for them. They had given all they had. Across the finish line they came. Sometimes three in a bunch, sometimes just one. I looked for Kate. I anxiously watched.
In a bit, here she came. Face red, her pony tail swaying from side to side, her elbows bent, her feet pounding. She was with Jamie, one of her good friends. Mary was a little ahead of them. Kate was coming in 8th place in the girls. Not bad for the first race. Our girls' team had placed 1st overall!
"Come on girls, let's go root on the last ones to finish," Judy said climbing on the golf cart. Off we were again, up over hills and around trees until we came up to a few still running toward the finish line, slowly putting one foot in front of the other. Among them was my hero! The young man who inspired me every time he ran past my farm.
"YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD!" we hollered and meant it! "YOU'RE GOING TO FINISH- THAT'S THE MAIN THING!
We drove along beside them as they made their way across the finish line and bent over exhausted! My heart went over to those young people and silently put its arm around their tired shoulders. They were indeed my heros. They never thought once about giving up!
Tents were taken down and folded up. Tired but happy kids loaded onto the bus. Judy put away the golf cart and walked over to the bus. She waved as she bent to walk into the bus and take her spot at the driver's seat. The first meet was over. Would we go to regionals? State? We didn't know. We would take one meet at a time.
About a week later, my question about if I could become a para at the school was answered with a call one evening from the elementary school principal! They had a little kindergarten boy who could use a para. He wanted me to be the one.
"Oh Mark, could I please! I'll promise to help you after school and on week ends! I promise!"
After clearing his throat and thinking a minute he said, "Well, since you want to so bad I guess we can try it for awhile."
"Oh you are the best hubby ever!" I hollered running to him and throwing my arms wide around his neck.
So with that, I was not only a mother with children up at our school. I was now part of the faculty! I felt very privileged to work with such wonderful people. They treated me so kindly and my days were happy there among the students and staff. I made many, many beautiful memories walking those halls and out on the playground on warm spring days listening to the excitement of the children as they ran from the swings to the slipper slide and then to me.
Bret and Adam would make our weekends perfect with a visit home to the farm. Bret was enjoying college, but he always loved to come home and walk the back pasture with Kate and the dog,or go hunting, or at night we would hear them downstairs talking way into the night.
We would have to get used to the washer going at 10:00 at night and then the dryer. Everything would go into the dryer! Even tennis shoes, so there was a clunk, clunk, clunk for about an hour. College kids had a different schedule than farm folks, but we loved every sound of it! He was home for just a short two days. We were once again complete.
I was making a turn in the west brome patch when I looked up and saw five boys running past. I stopped the mower and went to stand beside the gravel road. Soon here came five girls, and I quickly spotted our Kate! Their pony tails flying in the breeze. Their arms bent at the elbow. Their feet hitting the ground in rhythm. Once in a while, I heard a word or two come from them in short breaths; otherwise, all that could be heard was their feet hitting the gravel. On they went past our mailbox, across the little bridge and on up the hill and out of sight. I waited for a bit longer and another group came. They kept coming until I thought there was no more. I took one more look to the west and up on the top of the hill I spotted a single figure. I waited for him to pass by. He was behind them all, but I learned a lesson from this young man. He never gave up. He was always determined to finish, even if he came in last.
I waited for him to pass by. I raised my hand and waved at him. "I admire you, I hope you know!" I hollered as he passed me by, raising his hand in a wave. On he went, past our mailbox, across the little bridge and up the hill and out of sight. Soon after he was out of sight, here came the coach's white van, slowly driving by. They were headed to hand out water and running tips, I was quite sure!
I went back to the mower and continued mowing the west brome patch. That was the cross country team of our school. They would run for four plus miles every night and on Saturdays mornings. Many times, they would choose to go past our farm. I loved it, because I loved those kids. They were an inspiration to me!
No, we didn't need to worry about Kate becoming bored after Bret went away to college. She threw herself into school and activities. She loved competing. She loved to encourage her classmates. She was becoming more outgoing. That little girl of ours that use to be so bashful. She was now in sports, Scholars Bowl, student council, Forensics, and whatever other group or activity seemed to come her way. Sometimes I was concerned that it was too big of a load, but she seemed to be handling it well.
That night Kate announced that their first cross country meet was going to be a week from Saturday. It was on a tough golf course with lots of big hills to climb.
"Can we go watch?" I asked Mark.
"It would be fun, but I can't. You could though."
"Super, I'll drive, but I suppose you have to take the bus, right Kate?"
"Yeah, we will leave around 9."
That night in bed I turned to Mark, "You know, I have been thinking about something."
"Now that is scary!" was his answer.
"Since Bret is gone to college, I have been thinking about working at the school as a para. You know, helping special ed children."
"You mean full time?"
"Yeah, I'd be up there with Kate and home early enough to do the chores. I'd be home on week ends. What do you think?"
"I'll have to give that one some thought. You know I don't like sharing you with anybody don't you? I really do need your help on the farm! But I can tell it would mean a lot to you," Mark said rolling over and taking me in his arms.
"Thanks honey," I said snuggling up to my best friend in the world.
There was a light cloud cover on Saturday. It was a bit on the cool side when I drove Kate to the school. The buses were waiting, their motors running. Boys and girls were getting out of cars all over the parking lot. Kate grabbed her back pack out of the back seat and gave me a fast hug and was gone.
"Have fun! I'll be watching!" I hollered out the window to her back as she walked briskly away from me.
The golf course was beautiful. All green and neat. Trees stood here and there. There were yellow school buses everywhere and little striped tent tops being set up all around the course. Girls and boys were milling around, some doing stretches, some just talking, some sitting under the tents.
I made my way to the spot that I was sure was Kate's team tent. Sure enough, there were the kids and their bus driver, Judy. I would just stick with her. She was not only the bus driver, she was their cheerleader! I loved Judy and her "get up and go". She never sat still.
"Hi Carrie," I heard from across the way. I looked and there was Mary's mom.
"Hi! Are you here to cheer them on too?" I asked waving to her.
"Sure am! And my hubby came too. Couldn't miss the first meet!"
"Mark would have came, but he had something he had to get done today."
Judy came up to the starting line, driving a golf cart. That was going to be our transportation as we were the cheerleaders! FUN! The boys would start first. They would run three miles, the girls two.
It was getting about time. The coach's were giving last minute instructions. The boys went to the starting line. They stood there in position, waiting for the gun to go off. The girls stood off to the side a bit...waiting, anxious to get started but a little nervous. Some were running in place, some were bent over doing the last stretch. One or two took a fast sip from the water bottle, then threw it on the ground. You could see the anxiety written across their faces. I spotted Kate. She looked a bit nervous for sure.
BANG..the boys were off! You could hear feet pounding the ground as their backs disappeared down behind the hill. The girls were getting in line now. Some bent slightly at the waist, ready to take off. Some rubbed their hand down their shorts. All stood there close together,one foot back of the other waiting for that gun.
BANG! They were off. You could hear the pounding of feet as they too disappeared around the corner and down the hill.
"Jump on girls! We're off!" Judy hollered.
Off we went! Bouncing up over the hill and around the corner, holding on for dear life. Judy could drive and fast. We sped past the girls and then the boys and on to the end of the one mile. Jumping off, we waited. As the kids came panting past us, we shouted, "GIVE IT YOUR BEST GUYS! COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT! COME ON LADY TIGERS!"
Over and over we would shout, until about the last one passed us. Then, back in the golf cart we would get and off again at high speed. Half way into the second mile for the girls, we stopped again.
"YOU'RE DOING GREAT! WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT! WE'RE BEHIND YOU! LETS GO! COME ON YOU'RE ABOUT THERE!
As they came across the finish line one by one, they were exhausted! Some of the boys appeared to me to be plumb green in the face, and some were even puking! They were all bent over at the waist, gasping for air. I felt so sorry for them. They had given all they had. Across the finish line they came. Sometimes three in a bunch, sometimes just one. I looked for Kate. I anxiously watched.
In a bit, here she came. Face red, her pony tail swaying from side to side, her elbows bent, her feet pounding. She was with Jamie, one of her good friends. Mary was a little ahead of them. Kate was coming in 8th place in the girls. Not bad for the first race. Our girls' team had placed 1st overall!
"Come on girls, let's go root on the last ones to finish," Judy said climbing on the golf cart. Off we were again, up over hills and around trees until we came up to a few still running toward the finish line, slowly putting one foot in front of the other. Among them was my hero! The young man who inspired me every time he ran past my farm.
"YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD!" we hollered and meant it! "YOU'RE GOING TO FINISH- THAT'S THE MAIN THING!
We drove along beside them as they made their way across the finish line and bent over exhausted! My heart went over to those young people and silently put its arm around their tired shoulders. They were indeed my heros. They never thought once about giving up!
Tents were taken down and folded up. Tired but happy kids loaded onto the bus. Judy put away the golf cart and walked over to the bus. She waved as she bent to walk into the bus and take her spot at the driver's seat. The first meet was over. Would we go to regionals? State? We didn't know. We would take one meet at a time.
About a week later, my question about if I could become a para at the school was answered with a call one evening from the elementary school principal! They had a little kindergarten boy who could use a para. He wanted me to be the one.
"Oh Mark, could I please! I'll promise to help you after school and on week ends! I promise!"
After clearing his throat and thinking a minute he said, "Well, since you want to so bad I guess we can try it for awhile."
"Oh you are the best hubby ever!" I hollered running to him and throwing my arms wide around his neck.
So with that, I was not only a mother with children up at our school. I was now part of the faculty! I felt very privileged to work with such wonderful people. They treated me so kindly and my days were happy there among the students and staff. I made many, many beautiful memories walking those halls and out on the playground on warm spring days listening to the excitement of the children as they ran from the swings to the slipper slide and then to me.
Bret and Adam would make our weekends perfect with a visit home to the farm. Bret was enjoying college, but he always loved to come home and walk the back pasture with Kate and the dog,or go hunting, or at night we would hear them downstairs talking way into the night.
We would have to get used to the washer going at 10:00 at night and then the dryer. Everything would go into the dryer! Even tennis shoes, so there was a clunk, clunk, clunk for about an hour. College kids had a different schedule than farm folks, but we loved every sound of it! He was home for just a short two days. We were once again complete.
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