First day was pretty solid. Sunlight had yet to outstretch it's arms and step out on to the grey pavement turns and glittery shingles of suburbia when I rolled abruptly out of deep rest. In the small dotted line space between true daybreak and murky sleep for the typical worker my phone made its rooster call to a tenant already awake. I don't think that it was quite necessary for me to be up so early, but I of course couldn't have slept any longer if I had tried. Sometimes the only chains stronger than that of the comfort of warm sheets that hold you down are the tingly chains of adrenaline that wrap around the chest and pull up with pulley systems angled toward the front door. The orange and blue spilled through flat blinds and perpendicular threads trellising the counter tops and simple-made sandwiches with light that indifferently rendered the mundane beautiful. Sharing a quick note of love with the girl I hold near and dear, I began my shift clear-eyed and quiet, packed lunch in one hand and walkie talkie in the other.
All things considered, as a "Floater" I did quite well. I only had to get 10 kids to stop crying, clean up a little poop, pull apart 1 scuffle, and wipe 1 leaky nostril. By products of these tasks were new found friends, namely one little girl that I will call Lynn. Lynn is a nice girl with two helpings of heart, plenty of brain, and humor marinated throughout (I'm very hungry right now, I'm sorry). Maybe 10 years old "going-on-20", I found a level of depth in this child that her lack of life experience didn't seem to dilute. What an interesting little human.
Working in the gym, I spent all day answering inquiries of any sort that came through the wire (verbal or digital), hoofing back and forth at the whims of children and their teachers. I think as far as first days go, having this experience and learning the names of so many gut-wrenchingly adorable little peanuts that I eventually had to check out come closing time-- with one hand checking photo ID, while the other directed munchkins to their belongings crammed into cubbies, was quite beautiful.
Rugby practice proceeded the double shift, and yet another workout after that. I dragged my achy knees home just as the curtains called for my eyes but hunger kept the show rolling. The call I made to my girlfriend afterward was nice ribbon tied gingerly atop the gift that today slowly became.
Now it is 12:52am, and I have to leave for work in less than 6 hours, but I embarked on the journey of yet another film and it forced my hand at writing. While much of it was deeply philosophical, I found one line particularly iconic.
It was said harrowingly that-
"Intimacy is our last sanctuary."
And when taken out of the dramatic context upon which it is presented, it's actually a very nice little thought. Even, maybe, a warm one.
I like that.
All things considered, as a "Floater" I did quite well. I only had to get 10 kids to stop crying, clean up a little poop, pull apart 1 scuffle, and wipe 1 leaky nostril. By products of these tasks were new found friends, namely one little girl that I will call Lynn. Lynn is a nice girl with two helpings of heart, plenty of brain, and humor marinated throughout (I'm very hungry right now, I'm sorry). Maybe 10 years old "going-on-20", I found a level of depth in this child that her lack of life experience didn't seem to dilute. What an interesting little human.
Working in the gym, I spent all day answering inquiries of any sort that came through the wire (verbal or digital), hoofing back and forth at the whims of children and their teachers. I think as far as first days go, having this experience and learning the names of so many gut-wrenchingly adorable little peanuts that I eventually had to check out come closing time-- with one hand checking photo ID, while the other directed munchkins to their belongings crammed into cubbies, was quite beautiful.
Rugby practice proceeded the double shift, and yet another workout after that. I dragged my achy knees home just as the curtains called for my eyes but hunger kept the show rolling. The call I made to my girlfriend afterward was nice ribbon tied gingerly atop the gift that today slowly became.
Now it is 12:52am, and I have to leave for work in less than 6 hours, but I embarked on the journey of yet another film and it forced my hand at writing. While much of it was deeply philosophical, I found one line particularly iconic.
It was said harrowingly that-
"Intimacy is our last sanctuary."
And when taken out of the dramatic context upon which it is presented, it's actually a very nice little thought. Even, maybe, a warm one.
I like that.
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