Old Dogs and Children...

I've always liked kids. Some people are dog people and there are cat people too. I've never really been a fan of pets, although recently I have learned to enjoy the company of an older dog. Probably because we have a lot in common, and it has to do with aging and arthritis. We mostly connect in that way, because we understand each other.

This story is really more about children, and not about animals though. It's about the enjoyment that I get from teaching and being around people. Children are especially fun to teach. Many times during my career, I felt that I had missed my calling. I realized --sometime back in the 80s-- that I really enjoyed being a training instructor, even though there was a time during my early police career that the thought of addressing a group of trainees seemed to transform me into a trembling bundle of nerves.

I have done my share of training seminars and in-service lessons over the years. Looking back now, I think that the most enjoyable times that I had, involved training young people. Bicycle safety classes with young scouting groups bring back many fond memories.

I was recently asked by a local Kindergarten teacher to be the Mystery Reader at her school.  Once I agreed, she cleverly upped the ante, and made arrangements for my reading to extend into all four Kindergarten classes. The book chosen for me to read --A Day in the Life of a Police Officer-- somehow seemed to fit.  Patti was the teacher, who so cleverly planned this in-service session, that would involve  77 young and very inquisitive minds, and a man passionate about his life and recent past career.

Upon arriving at the elementary school main office, I was greeted by two young faces that provided a giggly escort --through a maze of hallways to the classroom where I would enter and make my acquaintance-- to a roomful of five year olds bubbling with energy and excitement.  Shy? Not this group! "Chief, you look younger in your picture", was just one of many comments I heard, referring to a photo of me on the teacher's desk, neatly propped where perhaps an apple should be.

Sitting in front of a group of very well behaved students, I shared the author's story along with bits and pieces of my own story of a lifestyle from days gone by. I'm sure that the fun and enthusiasm I had, while addressing my classroom of intrigued learners, was readily noticeable. Once the story ended, I opened the session to questions and comments, and there were many.

"Do policeman ride cheetahs? Why do police cars make that funny loud sound? Did you ever get hurt when you were a policeman? Did you bleed?" Question after thought provoking question. Responding to questions asked by such young and innocent minds takes a lot of extra thought. The innocence of the young is one thing that I truly enjoy.  Kindergarten teachers have a great job.

This in-service training did have a purposeful goal, or as I would refer to in a lesson plan, an objective. The objective of this session was to help the students learn and remember their home street addresses and the importance of knowing that information. My visit with the class also helped to show this classroom of young  --learning about life-- students, that police officers are ordinary everyday moms and dads who have chosen a profession that serves the community.

After the reading and question portion of my visit, I spent some time with the class to observe their projects, which included an invitation to sit on the floor and check out a hotel constructed of building blocks, admire some art work, and view a computer work station. The visit ended all too soon, but only after I assisted in retrieving a toy phone that mysteriously ended up in a ceiling light fixture.

Kids are fun, often funny and generally possess a certain innocence that tends to slip away much too soon.

Among the many other interests that I have, I enjoy addressing groups of people and sharing my thoughts and life's experiences. Now I'm learning to share my life with my new friend "Buddy" --you know, the previously mentioned aging pooch-- who is also a good listener and knows his address too!


~Safe Riding~

-The Chief

The Meet

The offer to attend a high school track meet was inviting. Considering that I hadn't been to a high school sports event in ten or more years had a certain appeal to me that I openly welcomed.

Asking that I accompany her, Patti had decided to attend the meet even though the weather was somewhat cold and rainy, which is typical for early Spring in New Jersey. The track event was being held several school districts away and her daughter Carly --a Senior and member of the team-- would be competing in several field events.

My first observation once there, was that the event was much larger than those that I had been involved in during my coaching years. There seemed to be more schools, more competitors and a larger spectator crowd. The coffee we purchased upon arrival, although it didn't deserve that label, served a much more important role which involved the transferring of heat from the cup to my already chilled to the bone fingers. A dollar well spent.

After a couple of introductions to a few of Patti's friends, I found my own small section of earth to plant my feet on, where I could observe the Shot Put, Javelin and Discus throwers, and slowly chill the rest of my normally warm Florida body.

As I stand and observe, I feel the coldness gradually working its way through my body, soul and mind -

"This is one part of the job that I really don't care for", I thought to myself as I looked around at all of the other officers. "There must be fifty departments represented here. This scene seems somehow all too familiar to me", the thoughts continued.

As the officers lined up, one row and then another, there was an ever present sense of sadness, although this was coupled with a feeling of camaraderie.  As much as I truly enjoy my profession, I am aware on a daily basis, of just how disposable I am. Now, once again as I watch as a fellow officer is laid to rest, I am reminded of this fact.

My fingers and toes are so cold that they hurt. They haven't reached the point of no feeling yet, they just hurt. The late afternoon chill in the air is different than the chill that runs down my spine as the Marksmen fire their rifles in a final tribute to an officer who paid the ultimate price. But still, I stand at attention like all of the other men and women in blue. Standing at attention as the bagpipers play. Standing at attention as the rifles crack the silence. Standing at attention as the Minister speaks, and finally, as the casket is lowered below our playing field where mankind lives, where track team members compete, and where Police Officers strive daily to survive.

"Chief, get the camera ready, Carly's going to throw", Patti says, which brings me back from a time and lifestyle of years gone by. "Are you okay?" she asks, noticing my far away gaze.  "Fine", is my reply --as I stand there still numb from the coldness lurking throughout my body.

Leaving the meet --as warmth and feelings begin their journey back into my extremities-- I sense a familiar calm as I thank an officer who has just stopped traffic for us to cross the street.

"Let's stop for a good cup of coffee on the way home", I offer.


~Safe Riding~

-The Chief

The Truth about Aging

When I think about how fast it has all happened, it sometimes takes my breath away. No, not really. That's actually not a true statement. Let me start again.

When I think about how fast it has all happened, it makes me somewhat melancholy. There, that seems to be a more accurate statement.

 Life, Living and Aging

That's what I'm talking about. Every single person reading this dissertation, has heard it before - "Enjoy life, it goes too fast" or something similar like, "enjoy your kids while they're young because they grow up so fast."  We all know it, but I want to talk about it.

I think that I think too much. I think about aging. I think about my existence on this earth, and I think about the relationship of time and how it affects everyone's life. Sometimes I think that most people don't normally have these thoughts, but rather go on day after day just existing. Eating, sleeping, breathing...living. Perhaps my move to a retirement community has made me think more about it. I suppose that being around people much older than myself has somehow made me more aware of the aging process and all of those things that accompany it, both good and bad.

My son Eric and I had a lengthy conversation recently about time. He brought it up. We talk frequently about such topics because, like me, he too is a pretty deep thinker. I'm not really sure how we got on that particular topic, but we did. Even though Eric is a much younger man than I, he gets it. I believe that he realizes just how fast time goes by, and also that time seems to speed up as man slows down during the aging process.

When I was much younger, I remember hearing my parents talk about age and aging. But like many young adults, I didn't really give their words much thought. I think that a person has to experience the aging process for many years, before it all really seems to make sense. Or maybe more accurately, it makes no sense. At times to me, it just seems to be sad. We are born. We live. We die.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not a sad individual or unhappy with life or anything that life has thrown my way.  In fact, I tend to be happy most all of the time. I've been this way for many years. I've been fortunate in my life to enjoy things that matter most, but it seems that there was a lengthy learning curve to get to that point. I was the guilty party who wished many times that my children would grow up so that I could recapture my life. What was I thinking then?

Sometimes I wonder if the very essence of how I lived my life, basically searching for the perfect partner and ideal living arrangements, has somehow provoked these thoughts that now flood my mind on a fairly frequent basis. The song lyrics, "I teased at life as if it were a foolish game - I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out" were written about me.

My lesson about life took me years to learn. I like the man that I have become, even though I am not rejoicing in the fact that it took me so many years. I like that I now take the time to appreciate the little things in life that years ago had little meaning to me. I like that I am content. I like that I have a tendency to like people. I like the calm that I now possess, even when my surroundings could easily dictate otherwise.

If I were to be given the opportunity to rewind my life and start over, I would only make a serious attempt to slow it all down. The content of my life was and still is satisfactory to me. The speed however, was much too fast. Life has been more than kind to me, and aging...well, I'm definitely aging.

I think that I think too much.

~Safe Riding~

-The Chief