Another Weekend

What a week! My class of underacheivers were taught this week by our oldest son and a prospective new teacher to the school. Throw in me in between and the kids had quite a week also.

Annie, Wilson and I are heading north to Napa Valley. The kids are going to bond with their uncle and aunt, I'm the chauffer. Wils will have to uphold the "Sobrino" tradition. Tio Juan's foreman, Jose Leon, said he preferred the sobrinos, Brad and Sam, in the past to other workers. Wilson has that memory to keep him going. Dad hopes he realizes manual labor is good for the soul and that school isn't so bad also.

Wilson has something on his Bucket List that the others haven't done. He received his SAT scores today. He "did work" as he said--2110 of 2400. We are proud of this accomplishment. Now if he "does work" on the vines, that will be another good thing.

Addendum to earlier post.

The brother above on the right proved himself tonight in a summer league game and is going to prove himself this next week in the vines on Mt. Veeder. The brother on the left is in Georgia proving himself now in anticipation of serving his country. We received a letter describing going into the gas room and taking off his mask. He said he was to take off the mask, say his name, clear his mask and put it back on. Sam's response is typical of Sam, "I was glad to know the mask works," after putting the it back on.

Brad finished up his school year and coaching winning at Clovis North. He has one more year at FSU and then. . . He will be leading Wils next week, that will be interesting.

Annie finished her freshman year with straight A's. Wooo,
Whooo! Early mornings in the weight room and nights studying paid off.

Ramblin', Here's Your Sign

Remember the first time you saw Steve Martin perform? On Saturday Night Live, when it was good? Just another sign I'm getting old.

More random thoughts on a mid June morning.

S called Sunday and no one was home. He left a message on the machine and we have that. Finally technology that helps. He sounded bored, but excited to be finally moving on to what he signed up to do.

B was home for the weekend and it was good to see him. He went with us to see Gma at Cypress Rehab.

Gma is getting better. Strokes are difficult.

A and W were in Chico for the weekend at basketball tournament for W. He played at Chico State and Chico High. Would have been nice to go, but maybe next time. Chico was long ago and far away. A got to eat at Madison Bear Garden. I was so poor in college I ate there only a few times, but sat in class many days smelling the smoke of their barbeques. BIG burgers and stuff on the walls. Someday I'd like to go back and spend some time without having to worry about money.

It is truly an interesting experience to be on a different side of education. Difficult decisions are never easy, just hope that others see your same vision.

A good friend D is taking a "sabbatical" from teaching. I hope he stays away, and not because he isn't good. Sometimes we deserve to move on.

The gardens are growing. We are eating some vegi's. More to come.

Summer school is more of the same. I truly am sad with the lack of curiosity of some students.

Courage?

"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.  It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.  You rarely win, but sometimes you do."  Atticus Finch to his children.

"Another Mockingbird quote,"  you probably are thinking. "What a waste of bandwidth."

Other than the Bible and possibly Shakespeare, name one book that teaches so much about life and how to live?

Well,  I'll give you another definition of courage.  Raise your children, then watch them leave home and live their lives.

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."*

The two young men, who are brothers, playing basketball don't realize the history watching them.  All they think of is playing against their brother and  proving who is better.

The man behind them in the cowboy hat and the woman next to him went to school with their grandmother.  The woman and their grandma, Choo-Choo Grandma, were best friends for years.

The four men on the bench waiting their turn to play were taught English or baseball by the young men's father.  They too can only think of the game to be played, not the history.  They await their chance to prove themselves.

The two brothers are hours and miles apart.  One is with his friends playing video games.  The other brother is in a state new to him making new friends and proving himself.  And proving to the history watching him he is worthy.  He has nothing to prove.

*Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird