By VERNA BROCK
School’s. Out. For. The. Summer!
Believe it or not, Alice Cooper’s rock anthem debuted when I was in high school, a long time ago. Despite being a pretty scary looking character to me, I could definitely relate to the sentiment expressed in his song.
Even as a good student, I looked forward to weeks of relaxed schedules and summer days without the stress of tests and research papers. Our school bus driver had it blasting every day as the school year drew to a close. Think he was looking forward to vacation too?
How well I remember those golden days of childhood. Like so many military families, we often moved from post to post while school was out. For the most part, my brother and I were excited for the next adventure. From Florida to Michigan to Hawaii, back to Michigan, to New Jersey, to Florida, we got to see this big, beautiful country. I’m pretty sure we took it all for granted as kids, since it was all we’d ever known. But we were smart enough to know the world was a pretty amazing place.
We attended seven different elementary schools, three junior high schools, and two high schools. And I have friends who make my travels look tame in comparison to theirs! We all learned how to make friends quickly, and to adjust to new environments and expectations. Education didn’t happen just behind school walls. Being a “military brat” was a great preparation for real life. New places, new people, so many diverse cultures to adjust to, all made us resilient. It made us adaptable, and dare I say, more open-minded. Even today, I feel blessed and grateful for the life I have lived.
Of course there was always a twinge of sadness as we left good friends behind, but this was offset by what was coming next. Our parents encouraged our excitement as we pulled up stakes and moved on. The only instance I really felt genuine homesickness was when we moved to Florida in the middle of my junior year in high school. That was a tough one. It did make leaving home for college painless…I’d already gone through any sense of loss two years before!
As my father drove me up Apalachee Parkway so long ago, I knew he was filled with apprehension. Despite my having graduated from community college, the thought of leaving his 19 year old daughter all alone, so far from home, was fraught.
I, on the other hand, couldn’t wait for the next new thing. I instantly fell in love with Tallahassee, and North Florida in general. I am still in love with the place, and have never wanted to live anywhere else since then.
Here in Wakulla, we are in the season of change and new horizons. Another class of bright, hopeful students has graduated. They’re moving on to new challenges and wide open futures. Parents send them into the world with pride and excitement, and the same twinge of anxiety my father felt so many years ago. We want so much for our children as we hope and pray for their safety and happiness! Their dreams become our dreams, and we fervently hope we’ve done our job preparing them well.
As summer kicks off, our children will be out of school, and looking for fun. You may see them out and about, playing, walking and biking. As always, keep your eyes peeled for them all day long. They don’t always look for us!
Please continue to keep the families of Thelma Watts, Mary Jane Thornton and Tom McClure in your prayers during this time of loss. Cindy Blackstock is recovering well from her recent surgery, and covets your prayerful support.
Next Sunday will be Second Sunday Sing at the Woodville United Methodist Church, at 6 p,m. It will be followed by a fellowship supper in the social hall, and everyone is welcome.