Getting Started
This morning I made my way over to the grounds crew shop at 7:30 by myself since Rocco had two classes he had to attend this morning. Honestly, I felt a little intimidated walking over. I knew some of those guys, and Mr. Clements and Mrs. Allen were extremely open and hospitable in our meetings although I still felt this nervous feeling. Those men were just that -- men who worked hard, early, and often, and here I was an eighteen-year-old kid who wears khakis and a collared shirt every day and complains about my 8:00 A.M. classes. Mrs. Allen, no stranger to hard work, said one of the reasons she got her job was because when she shook hands with Mr. Clements she had calluses everywhere, falls right into that category as well. But as soon as I opened the door and saw Coach Johnson, this intimidation vanished. She introduced me to all of the guys in their meeting room, and I was quickly at ease with their hospitality. There was no resistance to having me around, and the more I think about I don't see why there would have been.
Since it was raining pretty steadily all morning, we did spend extended periods of time outside. First, we went up to Mrs. Wendy's desk where she showed me the possible fountains that they are considering adding to the Snead Garden behind the library. After looking at those, we drove around and she showed me the different spots that we would be working at once we get a good sunny day. The biggest thing I took away from the mini tour of the grounds that I walk every day was that she is extremely passionate and knowledgeable about what goes on here at Woodberry. She thinks about what she will do in terms of the boys, not in terms of someone like herself who may be an expert in the field. She wants the boys to interact and appreciate the gardens, and she does her best to think of ways that she can make that happen.
After we drove around campus looking at all the gardens, Rocco arrived at the shop while we were sitting in the meeting room with everyone for their break. Once both of us were present, we went down to the drainage pond behind the Manning Family Science Building to do some pruning. We worked at clearing the area around the pond, dumped the clippings into the burn pile, and headed back to the shop. By now, it was almost 11:30, and we talked to one of the guys, Vince, about some of his experiences from cleaning up senior pranks and working with Mr. Nibblins in the gym. He kept saying that "Those boys" (Woodberry students) always get their teachers back in the end, laughing as he recalled the pranks he had seen through the years.
Since it was raining pretty steadily all morning, we did spend extended periods of time outside. First, we went up to Mrs. Wendy's desk where she showed me the possible fountains that they are considering adding to the Snead Garden behind the library. After looking at those, we drove around and she showed me the different spots that we would be working at once we get a good sunny day. The biggest thing I took away from the mini tour of the grounds that I walk every day was that she is extremely passionate and knowledgeable about what goes on here at Woodberry. She thinks about what she will do in terms of the boys, not in terms of someone like herself who may be an expert in the field. She wants the boys to interact and appreciate the gardens, and she does her best to think of ways that she can make that happen.
After we drove around campus looking at all the gardens, Rocco arrived at the shop while we were sitting in the meeting room with everyone for their break. Once both of us were present, we went down to the drainage pond behind the Manning Family Science Building to do some pruning. We worked at clearing the area around the pond, dumped the clippings into the burn pile, and headed back to the shop. By now, it was almost 11:30, and we talked to one of the guys, Vince, about some of his experiences from cleaning up senior pranks and working with Mr. Nibblins in the gym. He kept saying that "Those boys" (Woodberry students) always get their teachers back in the end, laughing as he recalled the pranks he had seen through the years.
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