Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Career Day, 2007

So.... Friday was career day at SoccerGirl's school. I was a happy participant, and enjoyed doing this for the third year running.

I arrived at the school in plenty of time, so I just dawdled in the office for a few minutes while the teachers prepared the students for the day.

I was presenting to grades 3 through 5, and since this was my third year doing this, I already knew a great many of the kids that I was going to be seeing.

When it was time for me to go to my assigned classroom, I headed in the right direction, being stopped by calls of "Hi, Mr. Gunfighter!, or "Aren't you Soccergirl's Father?" One girl, who had been soccergirl's classmate i the first grade came up and gave me a hug... it was all very cute.

I may have talked about this before, but I think that it is important to revisit here: A single man could do quite well in an elementary school. As I walked down the hall of the school, I got no small amount of attention from the teachers... all of whom were women.

Elementary school is so not man's world.

Anyway, the teachers were all giving me the sunbeam smile, and I was feeling rather good about myself until I realized something: It wasn't me that was um, exciting them. It was my stuff. My stuff. You see, to keep the kids engaged, I was wearing my tactical body armor, big-ass-expandable-baton, pepper spray, handcuffs... that whole shootin' match. They kind of like it.

So I meet my first group of kids, and I talked to them in very general terms about what I do, they enjoyed the presentation, which lasted about 30 minutes, and as usual, there was a segment for questions at the end.

This is where it gets... er, interesting:

"Do you shoot people every day?"

"That stick is to beat people, isn't it?"

"Are you married?"

"Are you really soccergirl's father?"

"Can you pick me up with one hand?"

"How far does a bullet go?"

"Bullets are so small... How do they kill people?"

"Can I shoot your gun?"

"Why doesn't your jacket have any sleeves?"

"Are you allowed to drive as fast as you want to in a police car?"


It was a long day, but it was a LOT of fun!

I can't wait until next year.

10 comments:

AB said...

Aww, sounds like a great day. Betcha did look pretty impressive with all that gear. You know what they say about women and a guy in uniform....

Anyway, I stumbled across your blog from several others I lurk. I am sure you will recognize several of the links on my "A-list" on my blog.

Jen said...

LOVE the comments - too funny for words! And sounds like you had a nice time.

BTW... check out my post from yesterday - VERY short, but you'll like it. ;-)

Jameil said...

lol. children are hilarious when kept in their little compartments to behave appropriately and be given back when not. :)

Anonymous said...

I think "That stick is to beat people, right?" is my absolute favorite. I imagine you replying, "Why yes, yes it is."

Flower Child said...

That's funny! My dad was an eye doctor so he would come in with a plastic eyeball model and some pretty gorey slides. It was awesome!

Gunfighter said...

Hi Jamiel, and welcome!

Janet,

Thats exactly what I said! Then the little so-and-so's all said "Ooooooooooooooooooh!"

cathouse teri said...

I love, "That stick is to beat people, isn't it?"

Kids kill me. So simple to them.

Glad you had fun and yes, I'm still alive! And kicking! ;)

Thanks for the lovingkindness, mister policeman!

Wholly Burble said...

I can imagine you were looking very cool. But I have to say, the Q & A was the best--I would have enjoyed being a fly on the wall for that part ;-))

And you get encore presentations . . . wowee!

plez... said...

so can you drive as fast you want in the police car?!? *smile*

Desert Songbird said...

So, um, yeah...how fast do you drive in that police car?