tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263344244356526863.post-55564408383363399792008-07-14T08:09:00.003-04:002008-11-13T05:24:14.036-05:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l_hZ087TrcU/SHtFK5Ra9CI/AAAAAAAAAxU/E-w8_bBv-NE/s1600-h/sapbw5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222844246341121058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l_hZ087TrcU/SHtFK5Ra9CI/AAAAAAAAAxU/E-w8_bBv-NE/s320/sapbw5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>When I was running an after-school program in my life prior to entering the illustrious Ontario Public Service, I had a core group of really wonderful kids who were around seven years old when I took over the program, and around eleven years old when the program closed*. On Saturday I was on the phone with the Man of Science negotiating DVD rental choices when one of those wonderful kids (we'll call him "S") walked by me with his equally awesome mom. I stopped talking and flagged them down. It's been about three years since I've seen them both and I actually had to tell them who I was (I look a bit different now than I did then) before the hugs and "how are you"s began. S is now totally gigantic, a teenager, with a lower voice but his same trademark dreadlocks and bright smile. He was always a lovely kid and I don't think I ever once had to tell him to correct his behaviour in any way, and besides that he was a happy and interesting kid who did great stuff like take dance classes and listen to a lot of old Stevie Wonder CDs. </div><br /><div></div><div>We talked for a while, getting superficially caught up and then talk turned quickly to the after-school program. S's Mom gripped my arm for emphasis and said, "It was really a formative experience for those kids. They never felt that happy anywhere else afterwards. Just the other day I was talking to S about how he feels about being the age he is now and his one complaint was that he didn't have your program in his life anymore." </div><div></div><br /><div>It's hard not to cry when someone talks to you like that, especially about something that took so much hard work and caused so much stress at times. I have never had a job with such dramatic highs and lows and I probably never will again. I am happy to have the job I have now, but I miss those kids a lot. </div><div> </div><div>J. </div><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*For a variety of annoying reasons. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6263344244356526863-5556440838336339979?l=alsoatalker.blogspot.com'/></div>J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12260580747334230342noreply@blogger.com0