From a display at Mom's senior community. In the front row, beginning second from the left: Dad, my son Josh, nephew John, and great nephew, John Jr.

November 11, 2013 – Monday

Veteran’s Day

18 degrees/snowy/30 mph wind

Pentoga Road

I didn’t get a chance to write this morning before school and I doubt there will be much of an opportunity Tuesday morning, so it’s either tonight or none at all.

Today is Veteran’s Day. Mom sent several pictures of how her senior community is honoring the Veteran's. In fact, I think Mom might be one of the shakers and movers of the displays. Someday, I'd like to see it in person. The pictures are quite impressive.

I wish everyone reading this would have had the opportunity to attend the Veteran’s Day assembly at West Iron High School this morning. It was wonderful.

The local Vet’s organization sponsors an essay contest on patriotism with small awards for the winners, one in each grade from fifth to eighth and one high school winner. Each winner stood before the entire student body and read his essay this morning. The most amazing part was you could have heard a pin drop. There wasn’t a sound, a whisper, a giggle, or any shuffling around from the several hundred students. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such respect from an entire student body. More amazing; only a few teachers were sitting among the students.

There were probably fifty local veterans honored at the ceremony and after each was introduced, the entire school stood and gave them a standing ovation. It wasn’t short and sweet. It was long and sincere.

The Vets ended the program with a twenty-one gun salute just outside the open gymnasium doors followed by Taps. Once again, there wasn’t a sound. I stood today alongside of the rest of our small community to proudly honor our veterans, but I also was once again proud of our youth.

Monday’s substitute teaching went okay. I didn’t have the advanced science classes so it was a different clientele. For the most part, the munchkins were just fine. One young man got the boot. Evidently he got my point as when he returned later in the day for another class, he was a model student. Another boy and I almost waltzed, but the dance card expired before he could push it too much further. Still, he got my point and I don’t anticipate any problems from him should he be in one of my future classes.

I already heard that the word is out; the guy from Alaska is fun, but he can really be tough. Good… they're learning.

It’s chilly out today. With snow falling sideways off and on since last night, the wind chill presently stands at six above zero. Brutus and I were outside a bit ago bringing in wood and I arranged the shop and barn so that the Blazer will fit inside with the door closed.

Speaking of Brutus, he seems to be doing well in his new doghouse. There are several blankets inside and a large doggie bed. When he came out tonight, he was just as warm as if he’d have been in the people house all day. All that hard work and all the insulation seems to be paying off.

Sargie’s working well into the evening tonight so Brutus and I are holding the fort. For certain, I’m not going to be up too late… I teach again tomorrow. Wading back into the elementary school, I’ll be subbing in the fourth grade in the morning, fifth in the afternoon. We’ll see how it goes. The jury’s still out on whether my future in substitute teaching includes elementary munchkins. I get a breather on Wednesday before teaching junior high English for half a day on Thursday.

Time to get this uploaded then become serious about relaxing.

After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…