We visit our Jackson Co. GA Buddies
Our Jackson Co. GA class was our first Trucker Buddy class.
They are a great bunch of kids.
We followed excellent directions from our teacher buddy, Pete Menosky, and arrived at the school at 8:30 AM on a lovely May morning. Almost immediately, one of Mr Menosky's students, appeared at the door to show us the way to the classroom, where We were enthusiastically "howdyed and shook", and hugged all around. We were presented with a lovely afghan that one of the mothers had crocheted for us. The whole class also autographed a South Jackson School license plate and presented it to us.
We passed out the safety coloring books and crayons and Landstar pencils that Ms. Donna Cooper gave us to hand out. We talked to them about the importance of seatbelts. "even though you are just kids, buckling up that seatbelt is the one big thing you can do for your own safety. Helping your little brother or sister buckle up is something good you can do for them." was the jist of what we told them.
Jasper told them a true story to illustrate.
Then, everybody trooped outside to see the "Green Meanie".
We spent the next hour or more explaining nearly everything in, and on the truck. Those kids asked some really sharp questions. They were amazed by the size of the inside. "My closet is bigger!" said one boy, "and you guys LIVE in there!" "Good thing we like each other, isn't it." we replied, to hearty laughter.After the "Green Meanie show and tell", we went to lunch. It had been a long time since we ate in a school cafeteria. It was just like we remembered from back in our school days. (When Dirt was young)
After lunch, Mr. Menosky left his assistant, Mrs. Evans, to "hold the fort" in the classroom and gave us a guided tour of the school. We were warmly recieved by everyone we met. Some of the teachers and students told us they really enjoyed seeing our pictures and letters that Mr. Menosky's class had put up in the hallway. They said they checked by there at least monthly to see what we had sent and from where.
It seems we had more buddys than just Mr. Menosky's class.
Then it was back to the classroom, and some one-on-one with the kids. These are "special needs" kids. They appreciated us and showed it. Every one of them drew us a picture, or wrote us a note or both, and gave it to us. One boy gave Aubrey a pencil, and another gave him a photo of himself with "don't forget me" written on the back.
Then it was time to say goodbye. We really hated to leave. Mr. Menosky walked us out, and asked us to be buddies again next year. He said that we touched something in those troubled kids with our letters from, and pictures of, places they might not ever see any other way but through our eyes and words.
(I don't know if he realized how much they had touched our hearts right back.)
We told him that we would be happy to continue as long as he would have us.
Our NC visit
Become a Trucker Buddy
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