The Beth Lists
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!



​55 Strangers

#32 -Policeman to the Rescue

11/18/2012

0 Comments

 
Preschool Teacher Days
​

Over 30 years ago, I was a teacher needing help!
 
Picture


 

A good humored policeman came to the rescue!

16 Two-Year Olds!
​
Picture
My "teaching job" at a California  preschool is one of the most challenging jobs I have ever had.  My assistant  Fiona and I found many ways to wear the children out to make sure they slept at  naptime.  A good long walk in the morning with the guidance of a long knotted  rope could do the trick.  Or better yet, a trip to Turtle Rock Park!


​One morning at the park... 
​

Picture
We let the kids race up and down the hill and pick wildflower weeds.  We gave them a good picnic lunch and sat the 16 kids on the hill to wait for the preschool van.

Picture
 


​
​Where's the van?

​
Picture
We waited for an hour, but it never came.  Fiona and I told stories and sang songs, but the kids were no longer amused.  Two-year olds who have been properly worn out for naps don't all sit and doze. They were getting second winds and wouldn't be cooperating much longer.  I raced off in search of a payphone, only to realize I had no dime.  I found someone to loan a dime, but (as was often the case back before cell phones) the pay phone was broken.

 I glanced across the parking lot and noticed a  policeman who had just pulled over a Volkswagen bug.  I waited for him to finish  his business and confronted him about our problem.  After I promised him I  wouldn't make him tote 16 two-year olds in his squad car, he offered to take me  to the school for help.


​Where'd they go?
​
Picture
I rode in the police car to the school, only to discover the van driver had just left for the park.  "Would you like me to take you back to the park?" The  policeman asked.   As we cruised towards the park, I pictured poor Fiona trying to coral 16 cranky, nap craving  tots.  But when we arrived at the park, Fiona and the little  guys had already been picked up.  "Would you like me to take you back to  school?"  The policeman laughed. "Or would you like to come fill out an  application for the police force?  If you're going to drive around with me all  day, you might as well get paid."


So thank you, patient Policeman!  You were kind to transport me back and forth and you were also kind not to lecture me about how I handled the situation.  I thought I was a responsible, quick thinking caregiver at age 23, but I cringe at how I left dear Fiona with 16 children!  In fact now that I think about it, things would have worked out much better if I had never spotted you.  But it would have been a much duller story. 
0 Comments
    Picture
         FIFTY-FIVE
        STRANGERS

    To celebrate my birthday in April 2012, I decided to reflect on the past with a different kind of list.  I've met a lot of people in my 55 years, but I'm going to stop and remind myself about the strangers I've met.  These are  people I met by accident, not through friends or work.  For some  reason, these  strangers dropped into my life.  Even though we may have only spent a few minutes together, these people have never been forgotten.

    Each week, I'll spotlight  someone I met in the past, who in some small way, made me stop and think.

    MY GOAL: 
    Remember 55 Strangers

    Archives

    April 2016
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    64 Holiday Strangers
    65 Pilot
    66 At Resale Shop
    67 Haunted Singer
    Amish Sisters
    Ann Arbor Street Legend
    Australian Professor
    Author/Scientist
    Bear Rescuers
    British Bus Driver
    Carnival Man
    Cellist In Utah
    Chinese Grandpa
    Clown In Barcelona
    Colorful Cat Woman
    Concertina Playing Surgeon
    Cowboy On A Plane
    Cowboy Poet
    Cruise Princess
    Curious Airport Couple
    Cusco Kids
    Donut Shop Mom
    Firemen
    Flower People
    French Nanny
    Garage Sale Guy
    Guide Named Pinky
    Hari Krishna Woman
    Hoarding Woman
    Hopi Flute Maker
    Junkyard Kenny
    Kind Priest
    Laguna Beach Laundry Man
    Library Man
    Man In A House-truck
    Melon Lady
    Merry Maintenance Man
    Mexican Singer
    Missouri Farmer
    Missouri Guardian Angel
    Museum Guard
    Mystery Nun
    Navajo Vendors
    Oklahoma Storyteller
    Ozark Chair Maker
    Patient Policeman
    Pawn Shop Guy
    Porch People
    Rancher/rodeo Rider/artist
    Rescuers On Snowmobiles
    Sad Dad At Hotel
    Sailor With Bird
    San Francisco Protester
    Santa
    Shark Fisherman
    Singing Computer Geeks
    Snake Boy
    Survivor Of Hurricane Katrina
    Tahoe Rim Hiker
    Tiny Ranch Owner
    Tipsy Strangers
    Train Travelers
    Woman In Pink Feathered Hat
    Wood Cutter

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!