 He's always kept to himself. His wife, too. Oh, there have been
rumors that she may give Martin a hard time at home, but you know
how rumors are.Martin retired from the Field Ranch a while back
after about 40 years. After that, we'd see him out walking or maybe
fishing a little along Lewis Creek.
Then one day in September, Martin found his new career as a
crossing guard down next to the elementary school. He got a blaze
orange vest, a paddle sign with "stop" on one side and "slow" on the
other. And they gave him a whistle. Oh yes, the whistle.
At first, when a child was spotted a block away, Martin would
trot out to the middle of the intersection, blow his whistle, hold
up his paddle and turn it around so everyone saw "stop," regardless
of where you were. And we'd wait until some third-grader got safely
to school. Then we were waved on through. And with each wave of
Martin's hand there was a blast on the whistle. Oh yes, that
whistle.
The school sure picked the right guy for the job. If you want
someone who can stand out there every morning in heat and rain and
snow and spring winds, just look for an old cowboy. Martin took all
his "tough lessons" ages ago.
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The problem Martin was having, however, was that he had more time
than children to protect, and that led to his current traffic-control methods.
He watches carefully, and if a car is coming from a right angle, he
steps out and blows the whistle and stops us. And if the car slows,
Martin waves him on whether he wants to go that way or not. And
that's when there aren't any kids around.
But no one complains. He's there early, he'd stop a train to let
kids cross the street, and he works for free. So what's a few
whistle blasts and marching orders among friends?
You have to admire professionalism wherever it is found.
[Text from file received from Slim Randles]
Brought to you by "Sweetgrass Mornings," a collection of outdoor
memories, at www.slimrandles.com.
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