Thursday, January 5, 2012

The Mother Ship.... A Search For Her Captain

I spent many years working in a high school and like all places of employment it had it's share of "crazies". To be honest there were times when I suspect we had more than our fair share of them.

Now, let me say for the record, I am talking only about co-workers, not students, and I do not mean Crazy in a Mental illness sort of way. I mean it in an "extremely odd bird" sort of way.

Now if you worked with me, you know deep in your heart that I am right about this, and in fact, you would have to admit that you have worked with, or at least met some of these people.

During my years, at this high school, I worked directly with a wonderful Lady who I became friends with and in fact remain friends with today. When we were working together we had a few conversations about the "crazies".

One day, after an encounter with one of them, I said to my friend, "You know, I think one day the Mother ship is going to just land right out back on the 50 yard line of the football field, and they are going to just start walking out the doors in droves to get on board.".

This whole concept led us to a new conversation, in which we decided we would try to determine who would be the Captain of said Mother ship. The leader among the "crazies" so to speak.

Now I will tell you there were many people to choose from, so we were aware that it wasn't going to be an easy feat, but at any rate the search began. As we had conversations with some of the candidates we would do things as we walked away like look at each other and simply say "Captain."

A firm decision on a winner seemed as if it could not be reached, however, because one crazy continued to top another with their behavior, thoughts, and ideas almost daily.

Then one day, when I was least expecting it, it happened. I found her, or maybe I should say she found me. I was outside walking around the track, and I was joined by a female substitute teacher, that I had never met before.

I introduced myself and she did the same. We began talking and suddenly she just looked at me and said "Sometimes I pretend that all of the food on my plate are the people, and my mouth is the space ship, and I open my mouth and let all of the people in."

My response was "Wow"...Really?? Well now, that sounds like a really fun game. It was nice to meet you, but I do have to be getting back to class now."

Having excused myself from the conversation, don't you just know, that I all but killed myself flying back to the room. I burst in the door, and said to my co-worker, "The search is over!! I found her!! Hands down! No question! It is over!! She is a blonde, she is out there on the track right now as I speak, and she has come for her people!!"

I said let me back up and tell you what just happened. I filled my friend in on everything that the woman had said to me and within seconds we were in full agreement that I had indeed solved the mystery. We spent the rest of our afternoon listening for the landing of the Mother ship.

Although we never actually heard it land, I feel that it must have. Perhaps sometime during a hot summers night, because I can report that the next school year several of the "crazies" did not return, and I never saw their Captain again either.

To be honest sometimes I feel a little crazy myself. I think we all do. I know there are times when I chuckle, and think...

Have mercy.... I should have just gotten on board.
 
Words Of A Southern Lady. Design by Exotic Mommie. Illustraion By DaPino