Many of us can relate to the end of June when our minds return to the days of so many of us loved and looked forward to many years ago; namely, when school is out for the summer!
How many of us fail to scream out "No more rulers, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks" once we entered the schoolyard, only after we were dismissed and wished a safe and happy summer.
I recall how, if we were certain we had passed without waiting results in the local newspapers, we would rush to a student in the grade ahead of us and offer to buy their textbooks.
In those days gone by we (our parents) had to buy textbooks secondhand or purchase new ones from the local bookstores.
I guess I was somewhat of a sentimentalist because once we were dismissed, I would make it a point to go to a classroom and bid farewell to teachers who would not be returning in the fall for diverse reasons.
Perhaps they would be moving to another school, or another town, on in the case of ladies, marriage was in the cards for them over the summer. Of course, some of them I had only known from seeing them around the school or out in the schoolyard. I would then return to my classroom, look around for a few moments and spend them reminiscing over various things that had taken place in the past year. Some things pleasant and others not so.
I cannot recall ever leaving for the summer months without saying farewell and thanking them for their patience with me over the past term. They always seemed pleased that I would take the time out to do that little task. Then it was off I went, looking forward to July and August and freedom, or so it seemed.
Never will I ever forget my mother's words when I would pass disparaging remarks about my dislike for school; "Son, as you get older you will come to realize that your school days are the happiest days of your life."
I found myself passing along these same words to my children and grandchildren.
