After thirty-four years of teaching biology and life science I fulfilled my requirements and became eligible for retirement.

When a sane teacher reaches that point in their life retirement looks awfully tempting. I’m guessing there may have been a few insane teachers making that same choice. 🙂

I retired in January,2001 and then long-termed subbed for myself to finish the year out.

I highly recommend “double dipping” for those final five months of my career. It was the first time in my teaching career that there was still money in the checking account at the end of each month.

At that stage of my life there was no question about me returning to the classroom. I had a short stint at being a substitute teacher, but I was not comfortable in that position.

Those wonderful little cherubs would get their assignments done really quickly and then I had to decide how quiet I was going to try to keep them.

The day I had to substitute in the band room was a decision maker. I think there were a few instruments exchanged. The percussionists all played nonstop. Tambourines, all the drums simultaneously, bells and I think there was even a whistle!

It was kind of exciting at the same time I was terrified not quite sure what I had unleashed on myself.

Shortly after that musical experience I retired from being a substitute teacher.

Occasionally I have dreams where I’m subbing in a computer class and I can’t figure out how to start my computer.

And then last week I found myself back in the classroom.

A teacher wanted me to share with her students the art of writing a children’s book.

It was a fourth- grade class of twenty-five students.

When I met the fourth-grade teacher I thought it unusual and a coincidence that her name was Miss Larson.

The students were very well behaved and very friendly.

Because I was wrinkled and had white hair, I must have triggered a grandfatherly appearance because all the students started to rap on their desktops and chant, “Grandpa, Grandpa, Grandpa!

I looked over at Miss Larson to see her reaction, and she had a big smile on her face.

And then things got even stranger. As if on cue the twenty-five fourth graders rose from their seats and met me at the classroom door for a group hug!

Miss Larson was still seated at her desk wearing a big grin.

Now I better tell you the rest of the story. 🙂

I failed to mention that I was not subbing at Pearson Elementary School. in Wheaton, Minnesota. Instead, I was at Davies Junior High School in Fargo, North Dakota.

And that Miss Larson was my granddaughter, Brooke Larson, who is finishing up her second year of teaching and doing a wonderful job.

What about the hug?

The students all knew me because I had helped Miss Larson with a project on the last day before Christmas vacation.

The group hug was a nice surprise, however.

We read my last book, Say That Again, together in class.

On the back of the book is a picture of me as the author and I’m sure it was taken ten to fifteen years ago.

One of the students came up to me and mentioned that he thought I had aged since that picture had been taken.

I was not phased one bit by that comment because I have survived forty-two years of similar comments and I’m immuned. 🙂

Until next time.