Father really did know best
To the Times: Maybe there is still a grain of truth left in some of those old sayings our parents hit us with as we were trying to make our way in life. One comes immediately to mind. My old man used to preach that we should never “#%&@ where we eat.” I kept that in mind when I started my first teaching job in a high school located in a community with a heavy church influence. I had just turned 22. I drove a snazzy sports car.
I had just left the building and was headed toward my parked vehicle on the side street adjacent to the school. Standing near my car stood the school’s siren. She looked older than I did. She begged me for a ride to 69th Street where she was to take the El to center city for modeling school.
At first, I didn’t know how to respond politely. Several students were within earshot of her request. A few teachers were also making their way to their cars and were taking notice of her being with me so close to my car. I told her that I was headed nowhere near 69th Street and that she might want to ask one of the female teachers who were exiting the building. I pointed to the guidance chairperson.
My pop’s old world somewhat crude adage paid off for me. Apparently, a colleague of mine didn’t have the same adage going for him when at another time during the late fall semester he had been reported a few times giving the little flirt lifts. He too was a beginning teacher like I was.
Probably one of the old spinster school marms on the faculty took the matter up with the principal, who was an elder in the most influential church in the town. The superintendent had once been a pastor up state in a Unitarian house of worship. My teacher friend was tall, handsome and a former college athlete. He had everything going for him, but he was dismissed for lack of discretion.
Pop had equipped me with several other of his famous axioms. Funny how I continue to adhere to his old world sayings and how I do my best in keeping them alive and vibrant by sharing them with own children and grandchildren.
My 14-year-old grandson has finally grasped one my father believed fervently, “Show me who you go with, I’ll tell you who and what you are.” a