Humility with a side of fries

Fule for Thought

 

There’s nothing like putting your life in perspective with simple and mundane house chores. Let me explain; I’m not a big fan of people with big egos. If you have confidence, that’s one thing, but if you are overly proud and brag, or you “BS” to make yourself look good to others, that’s where I “get off the train.” 

I’ve coached basketball for about 30 years, and maybe that’s a good thing, but it doesn’t make me a “big deal.” 

I’ve coached Sr. High Girls and Guys teams, to Jr. High, to club, and to our Youth JETS teams. Some of my teams have beaten other teams by 50 or 70 points, but I’ve also lost in a Sr. Boys’ game by 100 points! It’s actually hard to lose a game by 100 points, but one year my team did! So, I know that after over 350 games coaching, there are going to be ups and downs. You can easily go from the penthouse to the outhouse!

So, speaking of outhouses, I went for a walk today and had the music blaring through my ear phones … and it led to my chore. I found myself thinking here I am in my back yard, I have two University degrees, and I’m shoveling up a lot of dog poo! Who knew that in one week, our little dog could create so much! I’m cutting out anything with fiber for him … that’s the last thing this mutt needs! The whole time I’m doing it, he’s been let out, and he’s watching me! Not only am I his servant, he’s my foreman! How did this happen … how did he become the master? The dog looked at me and wagged his tail, he looked so happy, watching me take care of his poo!

Most of you know that I’ve been teaching a long time, and I’d like to feel as if those years have all been worthwhile, and that I may have made a difference in someone, anyone’s life. And then … you have a bad day. The kids aren’t as excited about your lesson as you thought, they’re hard to manage, or someone has one of the dumbest answers ever on a test! My Eng. 20-1s have been struggling through Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and I always try to make it interesting. However, I’ve learned that no matter what you do, someone’s going to tune out! In the play, King Duncan of Scotland (spoiler alert!), is murdered in his bedroom chamber by Macbeth. One of the fill in the blank questions asked “which character is chiefly responsible for killing the king?” 

One student actually put in the name Duncan! So, when I discussed the test results, I asked the class generally, “do any of you think that Duncan committed suicide?!  Also, kids … Tom is not the name of Norway’s king who attacked Scotland at the start of the play! Tom, Tom … does that even sound like a Norwegian name?!” 

It’s here when I usually say something like: “I should have gone into real estate. I could’ve been a fireman … I like to watch things burn! But no, I wanted to be a teacher, to make a difference in someone’s life … wow!”

One year, I had a curling quiz for my class and one of the questions asked the students to describe “the delivery” in curling. One guy wrote a very graphic and in-depth description of an actual birth delivery, using the hack! At that time I was absolutely flabbergasted, I still can’t believe that was his answer! He actually has gone on to become a teacher, so I really worry about his students! It has really made me question my career choice!

I was trying to get some marking done in the PE Office this past Friday, and I foolishly left the door open. Twice in about 10 minutes, a Grade 10 girl scared the crap out of me! I was just trying to mark, and I thought I’d be left alone, but that’s not how high school kids work, is it? So after two near strokes, I’d been shaken enough … it was payback time! Her class was playing badminton, and I waited until a break in the game. I had to do this for us, for all of us who sometimes feel we’re spinning our wheels, or we’re being unfairly treated! I snuck onto the court behind her and yelled loudly. She screamed, jumped, and threw her badminton racquet right up in the air … it was the best! I really had no sympathy for her, as it was a great scare, and she did have it coming. It actually made me feel better, as if I finally accomplished something this week.

 

(“Fule for Thought” is a slice of life humourous column that appears in the Strathmore Times, written by long-time resident, town councillor, high school teacher, coach, husband and father of two – Pat Fule. If you would like to get in touch with Pat, you can send him an e-mail at Pat.fule@shaw.ca)