For whom the school bells toll (standard:Inspirational stories, 914 words)
Author: Godspenman	Added: Aug 23 2010	Views/Reads: 2811/1878	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
On Monday last there was a confusing cacophony swirling all around me. Usually, I'm not one to give vent to the noises around me but this was a little different. I like to pick sides but this time I'm not sure who to root for. Perhaps you can understand t

On Monday last there was a confusing cacophony swirling all around me.
Usually, I'm not one to give vent to the noises around me but this was 
a little different. I like to pick sides but this time I'm not sure who 
to root for. Perhaps you can understand the confusion I am facing. 

It is like being a Gator fan in Bulldog territory. 

This uncertain sound has confused the dickens out of me, and it isn't
even Christmas time. 

Looking out our living room window, I spotted the source of all this
commotion. It was a yellow school bus filled with children on their way 
to their first day of school. As I watched the bus turn left and 
disappear out of sight, I thought about how the same incident can have 
completely opposite reactions. 

First, there was the loud "hurrahs" of parents all through the community
rejoicing in the commencement of school. Either, my hearing is getting 
better or the sound is getting louder, almost deafening. Up and down 
our street parents were high-fiving each other and smiling like they 
won the lottery. Even the lady across the street who has no children 
was out in her bathrobe joining in the celebration. 

Then, second, there was the equally loud sound of groaning children
commencing their formal education. After about three months of absolute 
freedom and fun, it was all behind them now and they were walking to 
their school classroom to set and set and set for the entire day. 

The people I pity the most are the teachers who are the recipients of
this horde of students who have not yet finished enjoying the fullness 
of their summer vacation. It seems that summer concludes rather quicker 
than the young people desire. Why is it good times go so fast and bad 
times seemed to drag on and on and on. 

I am not sure which side of the fence I'm on with this one. I feel
deeply towards these young people who after several months of freedom 
and absolute cavalier activity are now headed back to classrooms and 
discipline and cafeteria food. The fact that any kid survives cafeteria 
cuisine is a tribute to the constitutional strength of their stomach 
and digestive system. 

But then I can understand the cheering on the side of the parents. I
remember those days when my wife and I loaded up the children onto the 
bus for the first day of school. We stood together holding hands 
watching the bus drive out of sight and then we turned and slowly 
walked back into the house and sat down for a quiet cup of coffee. Let 
me underscore that word "quiet." 

Don't get me wrong here, I love children, especially my children but I
sure do love a quiet cup of coffee. 

That seems to be the story of life. What makes one person happy is a
burden to somebody else. What one person looks forward to with a great 
deal of anticipation, somebody else dreads the blasted thing. 

This brings me to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours
Truly. 

We have a few things in common, but mostly, we like different things. 

For example, she loves a fresh broccoli salad (yuck). I am not sure how
anybody in his or her right mind could eat a broccoli salad let alone 
eat it on purpose and enjoy it. I, representing the saner half of our 
marriage equation, love freshly baked apple fritters. 

In 39 years of marital bliss we have never been able bring these two
things together. Her love for broccoli is equal only to my loathing of 
it. And when I loathe something I loath it... you know what I mean? 

You are not going to believe this, but my wife turns her nose up at my
freshly baked Apple fritters. I don't understand it. All I can figure 
out is all those years of consuming broccoli has in some way destroyed 
her ability to taste good things. Just smelling broccoli burns my nose 
so bad that I can't smell anything for three weeks. Imagine what it 
does to your taste buds. 


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