Hayter for March 12, 2023
“Spring Break”
A sad thing about being a retired teacher is the fact that Spring Break doesn’t excite you as much as it used to. Oh, I’m still as joyful as a squirrel in a basket of nuts, but excited? Not so much.
When I started the first grade, Spring Break for Texas Public Schools was not yet invented. Colleges had been having Spring Breaks since 1938. I vaguely remember that Pasadena ISD started in the late ‘50s, early ‘60s. Montgomery County School Districts? All I know is that we had them in 1977, the year I started teaching.
The words spring and break, on their own, do not merit capitalization in a sentence. But, when you stick the word “spring” immediately before “break”, capitalization is mandatory. Or should be.
I have been attending school or teaching school for 42 years of my life. The vast majority of those years had a Spring Break in them. If you ask me, it saved lives.
But today? I had no idea that this week was Spring Break for Willis, Conroe, and Montgomery schools until I saw the article by Sondra Hernandez (my boss) in Tuesday’s paper entitled “5 things to do and see in Montgomery County for spring break”. I will not attend all five because there will be too many youngsters at a couple of them. But hey, I like kids. Seriously. I just don’t have as much fun when I’m encircled.
Right off the bat, Sondra mentions The Woodlands Children’s Museum, located at 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive. I visited the locale several years back, but I can’t remember what drew me. I was still teaching at the time, so I wouldn’t have gone just so I could be with kids.
I do remember having a good time with the kiddos. They were a hoot. And, I could have left any time I wanted. That was always frowned upon when I was teaching. I’m fairly sure I wrote an article about my museum visit. I’d look for it, but it would take me longer than trying to put on a new set of tires.
Another event begins this Friday the 17th at 4:00 pm. That’s the gathering time for Conroe’s 25th Annual St Patrick’s Day Walking Parade. There will be no blocked streets, nor floats and marching bands. But there will be a bagpiper walking around the area of the Court House with a bunch of proud Irish men and women, their friends, and all who wish to show up. After some introductions and welcoming of all attendees, a short march (walk) begins at 5:00 p.m. at one side of the Courthouse and ends at the Corner Pub. I have no idea what a pub has to do with a St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
Saturday the 18th the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance is sponsoring an Arts Festival at the Founder’s Plaza right next to the Owen Theatre. Sondra mentioned that they will “feature paintings, live music, street chalk art, food trucks, dancing, quilts, and more. The only thing you could add to that would be dromedary rides. Of course, there will be none of those. I only included it because I get too few opportunities to mention camels.
What next? Of course, the Montgomery historic district. That place is wound up with history, including the Fernland History Park and Memorial Park. Hey, downtown Montgomery has almost more shops and eateries than is allowed by law. And, who can forget the Longview Greens Putt-Putt golf course? The Hayter brothers never will.
The event that most excites me is the most expensive of them all. I haven’t told Kay about it yet. It’s the Jurassic Quest that will be at Conroe’s Lone Star Convention Center from Friday through Sunday. They’ve got some robotic dinosaurs, that are like the real things, except these can’t swallow?
They’ve got the sound, the moves, and the
size of real creatures from the Cretaceous, Jurassic,
and Triassic Periods. And, even after I leave the place, I still won’t know
the difference between those time periods. Oh, the tickets go from $19 to $36.
I’m assuming the $36 ticket will allow me to ride one of those bubbas. Either
that or put on a pair of those 3-D goggles and walk amongst them.
Without question, I’ve left out a bunch of
events. That’s because I talk too much. I’ve even ticked off myself a few
times. I don’t even want to think about the trouble I’ve given Sondra Hernandez
over the years. I prefer ending by mentioning the times when Spring Break was
exciting for me. It was a time when I didn’t worry about working every
weeknight to come up with lesson plans and grading papers.
That was my favorite thing about Spring Break. I could go to sleep late and not have to look at the alarm every two hours. I never wanted to do the sensible thing and travel for a week and come home in time to get to school on Monday. I preferred staying home and doing the things I was seldom able to do when school was going on.
Call me a stick in the mud, but even while teaching, I viewed Spring Break as a wonderful time to stay close to home. There’s just something about getting out of bed when normally you would be teaching your second-period class. And, watching TV instead of preparing for the next day’s class. I wouldn’t have to do that until late the following Sunday night.
That’s it for now. Each year only has one Spring Break, so go out amongst them. Just stay out of my way when I standing in the Cretaceous, Jurassic, or Triassic Period place at the Lonestar Convention Center. – By the way, if those three Periods you just read are spelled correctly, I’m fairly sure it’s due to Sondra.
end
I love you Mark
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