Musings I

     I have been retired for six days.  I do not think the reality of it has set in yet.  Life goes on...  It is not my desire to sit!  I believe there is more out there that I am being called to do, so the quest begins.  In the mean time I will write about the memories that I hold near and dear: some very pleasant, some not so pleasant.   The first is of Tom and his clock.  

     Tom came into my life the first day of school his freshman year.  A very complex young man, but one who stole my heart.  He had the appearance of one who might feel the need to exhibit a tough exterior but, in reality, he was as gentle as a lamb.
     He sat in the last seat in the second row from my desk: one that backed up to the wall.  He did his work most of the time, and always wore a grin on his face.  He was not one to talk as much as the others, but he was far from shy.  He just had little to say.  About two weeks into the year, I was nearing the end of my lesson for the day and knew it would be time for the bell soon, so I looked towards the clock only to see that it had stopped.  WHAT???  As I was standing there gawking at that clock like an idiot, Tom began to smile and smile big!  Looking at his left hand I noticed he had the cord to the clock held tightly in his fist.  That little rascal had unplugged the clock!  I said nothing as I looked to my wrist and checked the time.
    In just a matter of seconds, the bell rang and the students began collecting their things in preparation to leave.  Tom stood and plugged the clock in and took it off the wall to reset the time.  Neither of us said a word.  I just matched his smile as he left the room. 
     In the days and weeks that followed this became the norm.  I never saw him unplug the clock that entire year, but I did watch, daily, as he would plug it back in and reset the time.  It became our "little joke."  When the year came to an end, the students left for the summer and we all went about our business.  Tom was taken from us that summer in a tragic manner.  The horror of his leaving created a hole in my heart. 
     The following year, I watched over Tom's clock.  No one touched it!  When we moved to our new high school I asked to take the clock to my new classroom.  That clock went to every classroom I used while in Rio Hondo.  It hung on the back wall silently passing time until Travis accidentally pulled it down.  From that day on it was no longer silent.  It kept perfect time, but when the class was quiet, the clock was not.  Tom's presence may not have been seen, but it was certainly heard.  Love you Tom and may God bless your beautiful family with peace.