Geezer Day

Ron and Linda Hunt started it. Ron was the social director at Sandpoint High School for years. He also coached basketball and taught history. For years, Linda kept track of attendance in the school office.

Any time a significant event involving the SHS staff came along, Ron was always there to make sure people knew that situation and what to bring or what to give, be it a food event or a fund drive for those in need.

He also spearheaded the faculty betting pools for the NCAA brackets and for NFL match-ups. Ron always had his boards, collected a dollar from everyone who wanted to participate and happily handed out a wad of bucks to the winner.

In retirement, the Hunts have kept up their roles as social directors for all of us geezers. About three years ago, they decided that we needed to celebrate our freedom.

So, every year since then, on the first day all other teachers have to report for duty for their new school year, the geezers meet for a potluck at Ron and Linda's house.

I got the call from Linda last week. Wednesday, 4 p.m., bring hors d'oeurves.

And, by golly, this year I can go and spend some time. Last year Annie was coming in to Spokane Airport on a flight from Seattle, so I spent only a few minutes making the rounds quickly greeting faces I hadn't seen in months and catching up on how life is treating each of them as they zip through their golden years.

I don't think any one of our geezer crowd is spending much time in a rocking chair. I think that notion is becoming more and more of a myth as the Baby Boomer crowd retires and still seeks the Fountain of Youth, any way they can get it.

A number of us have part-time or full-time jobs. Many are volunteering, like Ann Gehring, for instance. She called a couple of nights ago on a mission to land a significant donation for the Homeless Task Force. Many others volunteer in the schools or at the museum. Most are still performing vital roles in the community.

So, there are stories to tell and moments we all shared together to be remembered. There'll be a little talk, I'm sure, about friends we've lost who've passed away in the last year and probably about a few hitches in the get-alongs that are in need of repair or are on the mend.

And, this morning as I type this post, I have just said good bye to a young buck named Willie who's headed off down to Sandpoint High for a new-staff-member orientation. Anymore, they keep the teachers so busy with meetings during the first three days of their contract that they have little time to prepare for the first day.

So, many, as I learned to do over the years, start earlier and earlier in August putting up those bulletin boards, arranging the classroom, getting the computers to work, and planning, planning, planning. In Willie's case, he'll probably be planning, planning, planning with every spare moment for the next nine months.

It's an uphill battle for a beginning teacher. I remember 40 years ago this very fall when finally, after about three weeks of school, I took a quick breath and then stuck my nose to the grindstone for more Baptism by fire. I was pretty much doing the same in 2001-2002 during my final year in the classroom.

The difference is desperation vs. finesse. Young teachers are desperately try to stay ahead of the game, while seasoned veterans constantly try to improve the established product to make teaching that much more effective. In both cases, time is the enemy---never enough of it in most cases, sometimes too much to fill.

Anyway, on this day when the school year starts anew, the old geezers like me will be gathering to celebrate our freedom from school bells and lesson plans while the young bucks begin to plot their way toward a day when they can do the same.

Best wishes to all teachers---young and old. May the school year go well for those who still plot their day by the bell.