Simpler Times

So I was in the kitchen at my work, and I went to throw something away and it brought back a couple of (ancient) memories. The kitchen at my work has granite countertops, and there is a square hole cut in it with a garbage can in the cupboard beneath.

It suddenly made me think of back when I was in elementary school. In the cafeteria, the kids would go through the line, get their food, and then eat. When we were done, we’d turn in our trays and head outside to play on the playground for lunch recess. I remember in my later elementary years, I got to help with lunchroom duty. It’s something that I would hate now, but that I absolutely loved back then. I would go to the lunchroom and take up a certain post. My favorite (which I now look back at and cringe) was the scraper. Basically, there was a window that everyone would slide their trays into (with food and garbage still on it) on their way out to the playground. I would be behind the window, grab the tray, and with a big rubber spatula thing, I would scrape the food and garbage into a hole in the stainless steel counter, underneath which were large garbage cans and send the trays on to be washed/sterilized. It was challenging enough to keep up with the flow of kids, but I remember the mean 6th grade bullies who would try to catch you off guard and slide their tray right into the hole and into the garbage can. They would (almost) never get past me!

I remember enjoying getting out of class for other assignments as well, such as office helper/runner. I would sit at a desk in the office for part of the day and run errands and/or help the office staff with anything like filing or whatever they needed. (Looking back, I wonder if I didn’t get that assignment just so my mom, working in the office, could keep a closer eye on me. I don’t remember very many kids who got that job.) I also enjoyed being on bathroom duty. I would sit by the bathrooms at recess and make sure that the playground aide had given the kids a bathroom pass before I would let them in. Another one I remember enjoying being a crossing guard. I even got to wear an official badge!

As I look back on those responsibilities I was entrusted with, I realize that I am grateful for opportunities throughout my life to sort of slowly grow into responsibility. I didn’t get it handed to me all at once, where one day, I wasn’t responsible for anything and the next I had tons of stuff to worry about, but it came gradually. It helps me remember that I have been prepared for the wonderful, crazy life I live now, and all the stuff I have to do. Speaking of stuff I have to do, I’d better get to it.