The Crossing Guard Chronicles: #4, ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Morning’

The ‘chorus’ joined in, the ‘maestros’ led, the ‘audience’ smiled and a good time was had by all. We’re the ‘pretenders’, middle and high school students and a crossing guard, letting our joyful, if off key voices be heard while waiting to make our way across four lanes of busy blacktop on the way to begin the last school day of the week.

“Oh, what a beautiful morning,

Oh, what a beautiful day.

I’ve got a beautiful feeling,

Everything’s going my way!”

Whatever the reason, a Friday, a beautiful daybreak for a change, or the last few weeks of school, it was a morning to sing, and we did. Well, I did. A few kids knew the words from the Broadway show, ‘Oklahoma’, and accompanied me. The more we sang, the louder we sang.

This magnificent morning, with its cloudless blue sky, was a time to break out in big smiles and we did that, too, even the ‘sophisticated’ Seniors joined. Some early rising real ‘seniors’ from the neighborhood, who were beginning their daily ‘10,000 steps’, showed some spirit by singing along as they crossed and mingled with students.

What a glorious way to end the school year. And quite a year it’s been at the ‘curbside classroom’. From quizzes to quotes, word games and jokes, anagrams and acronyms, new words and old history, inventions and inventors, we learned a lot of ‘stuff’ from each other. I hope some of it sticks.

But what I really hope is that our mornings, which began with ‘have a great day’, helped these youngsters to really have a great day.

I’ve enjoyed their company and camaraderie on sunny days, on cold snowy and rainy days. I wish the best of success and happiness to those who are graduating and look forward to seeing returning and new students next September.

I’ll be there, at the ‘curbside classroom’ with more facts, new challenges, brain teasers and general conversation. Look for the guy in bright yellow.

Steve (June ’19)

To all the students of the ‘curbside classroom’. Continued successes!

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srbottch

Retired in 2013 after 5 years as an elementary school teacher and 40 years as a sales representative to begin anew as a school crossing guard. SMy essays/stories are a way to communicate through the telling of personal experiences. One reader said about my blog stories, "...these are like a cold sip during a marathon run, simple, real life events". Another offered about my blog, “it brings some sense of normalcy not easily found in the modern world.”

21 thoughts on “The Crossing Guard Chronicles: #4, ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Morning’”

  2. I first heard that song when I was little and we were on holiday at the English seaside with family friends and it kept raining – every morning the friends sang it. I thought they had composed it themselves, especially for our holiday! A great song to be sung anywhere; your school mornings sound such fun Steve.

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  4. Steve, it’s great to hear your updates from the curbside classroom. You make starting the day for some with a smile and provoke conversation!

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    1. I post them on the Meadowbrook Facebook page so parents here do. But many students live by the library and I don’t know how to reach them. Thanks for the nice words, Jim.

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    1. Elmer, it’s always wonderful hearing from you. I’m well, thank you. I trust you are, as well. I’m glad you enjoy my story and we’re impressed with how I look. That’s my alter ego. 😂😂😂🙀

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  10. Wonderful, Steve! A perfect song on a beautiful day at the end of the school year. I’m so glad you ‘belted it out’ and had the kids join you in singing! I love this!

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