SCHOOL
This morning I accompanied my first grandson to his first day of school.
The little guy doesn't realize that this is the start of a lifetime of
institutional learning. He doesn't see the expenses that have just started
to roll in, the hours of sweat and sleepless nights, the germs he will
start sharing with his classmates, the traveling miles, the thousands
of packed school lunches, the friendships he will nurture as well as the
enemies he will create. I looked at his parents and I saw their hopes
and dreams in their young investment. Wasn't that me not too long ago?
Am I now standing where my parents stood when I was dropped off to a similar
environment? I remember my 1st day of school, I was late and I sat on
a bench outside the hallway. I didn't know I was supposed to go inside
the classroom. If not for the head teacher patrolling the area, I would
have parked there the rest of the day.
I was not prepared for school. Being the second child it was assumed that
I already knew what to do. (Actually,I think my parents told me but I
was too dumb to remember). It was assumed that I knew how to answer a
test paper --- I knew the answers but no one told me I had to encircle
it. No one told me it was good to participate in class. I always thought
it was polite to keep quiet. No one told me about enemies. My seatmate
who I was introduced as my new best friend turned out to be a bully. I
didn't know why I had to go to school. They didn't know what was happening
and I didn't know what to ask. I went with the flow.
Life
can be tough. But "tough" is a relative term. A shoeless kid
growing up in an underdeveloped area who needs to carry jugs of water
from a nearby stream and shepherd goats --- now THAT's tough!
Have you noticed that those who grow up deprived also mature faster? It
is during this period when one either grows bitter and chooses the "dark
side" or is loved and chooses the "good side." Morals/values:
respect, appreciation, integrity, honesty, love for others, fear of God,
etc. These things are picked up between school, home and society. Good
or bad, they stick with you for the rest of your life.
First
day of formal training? Yes. First day of understanding life? No. That
started on day one. Parenting is such an awesome responsibility. God bless
all you parents. God bless the child.
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Wisdom
from Joji of Antipolo, Philippines 
Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the
life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases
by being shared.
Thanks
to this week's winners:
Tom and Art of Pasadena; Mike of New York; Charlie of New Jersey;
Don of Kelowna; Rodney of Manitoba; John of Long Beach; and Joji
of Antipolo.
So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God
and man, trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean
on your own understanding.
--- Proverbs 3: 4-5
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Comments
Anonymous
Sun, 08/23/2015 - 08:34
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Busy Mom
This issue is a bonanza of things to read and listen to. Yep, we finally have our computer sound back. And sob, sob, is Zoey gone?
Special mention of course is [my great grandkid] first day in school. I envy [my grand daughter] having you and [your wife] around to oohh and ahhh with her over [his] milestone. Thanks to Facebook, we are all part of his big moment.
In your time, when you and [your older brother0 started prep, I had to divide my time. I already had the twins, (4 yrs), [your other sister], 3 and [brother] 2 to take care of at home. I remember during that time, I was in maternity clothes most of the time....boiling bottles of milk or breast feeding. I was 26 yrs. and with 6 kids already and just a year apart......running up and down the big stairway in [our ancestral home] and me screaming after you all, "Oldest to youngest!" ...lest you all crowd and fall down. (Looking back, that's how [your Dad's Mom] got in a comma --- by falling down the steps in [that home], no?)
You remember, "Oldest to youngest" orders when grabbing for food, or taking a bath, or walking single file down the street. It was my way of keeping track, of running kids, specially in crowded places. Thank God, you were all obedient. How I loved you all! How I thank God for all of you!
Love,
[Raoul's Mom]
(note from Raoul: For security reasons, I removed all the names of the original letter)
RaoulTGIF
Fri, 09/11/2015 - 14:38
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Oh Ma,
Oh Ma,
I'm sorry I made you defensive.
I understand you were straddled with too many kids too soon, in a strange land and inexperienced. And that's just for starters.
I will include your comments in the website so people will know that.
In reality we parents all make mistakes. We all have regrets raising our kids.
I did not mean to complain or insult you but I meant to emphasize the great responsibility of being a parent.
You were/are a great Mom. I am blessed to have you.
As far Zoe is concerned, don't worry. I was actually thinking of you when I made that last issue. I know how you hate sad stories. I forgot to warn you and assure you that things will turn out OK in the next edition.
Raoul
Love ya!
Anonymous
Sun, 08/23/2015 - 08:36
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Best intro
Thanks Raoul,
Best intro ever. You should be a Philosophy Teacher. Loved it.
Tom in St. John New Brunswick
Anonymous
Sun, 08/23/2015 - 08:39
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Profound Editorial
Raoul,
Your editorial column is very interesting and profound, actually. I can not remember one thing about elementary school, not anything that happened there, nor teachers nor friends. A blank. But that's the result of aging, I guess. I remember very little of high school and even college
But memories of 63 years with [my dear wife] keep coming every day, especially when I see a photo that triggers the context, or her handwriting, or while shopping I see items that she instructed me to buy.
My brother insists that I start writing a biography of [her] and her interesting life and publish it. But I can't even create an outline. "writer's block?". I guess if I just start with one or two episodes, the rest will flow. As with every other kind of writing I do. I have 35mm slides going back to our beginnings as teenagers together, then 8 mm films, then analog videos, then digital videos and photos. Maybe if I sort through and catalog all that, the images will surely trigger text to go with it, and ultimately a video AND a book. Now I'm overwhelmed just by the thought of doing all that.
But you gotta start somewhere, my mind tells me. So get going, Ray. Thanks Raoul. Maybe today is the start of "something big".
Ray of Altadena, CA
Anonymous
Sun, 08/23/2015 - 08:40
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I remember the kids
HI RAOUL:
I REMEMBER THE DAYS OF MY KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL, ONE BY ONE. AND YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT KIDS NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT. THE TEACHERS KNOW THE ROUTINE, BUT SOMEONE SHOULD WRITE A "WHAT TO EXPECT" BOOKLET SO KIDS UNDERSTAND. i LOVED THE HELIUM BEER THING! I'M PASSING THAT ON THE MY AUSTRIAN RELATIVES.
Heather of Whittier, CA
Anonymous
Sun, 08/23/2015 - 08:40
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Loved Political Jokes
Happy Friday Bro!
The two political photos are so funny! Thanks for sharing.
Rick of Chino Hills, CA