Rufus T. Firefly wrote:I readily confess to failing at several....
I also suspect that waving at the children on a school bus might get you a visit with questions from the local gendarmes
Agreed, Several school buses pass my house each morning and afternoon, and I have yet to initiate waving. It never occurred to me to do so; however, if one of the children initiated a wave at me, I would certainly return the gesture.
P.S. For the previous, past two academic years, when I volunteered tutoring, twice per week, at mid-day, a third then fourth grade boy, in Language Arts, at our parochial school, he took to running across the playground when he saw me approaching from where I had parked my car, and would run up to me, all smiles, and hug me around the waist as a greeting. There was no way whatsoever that I was ever going to reject or rebuff that affectionate greeting, out of respect and consideration for him and his feelings, and especially since he did so in front of the entire group of assembled classrooms at that grade level, during recess, which included the teachers. My student and I had 90 minute sessions, situated in a hallway "kiosk" sort of space, using two students' desks as a base for us both. At times when I would arrive at the school after his playground time was over, and we'd meet at our kiosk, he'd run down the hallway and greet me with the same sort of hug. I'd hug him in return, a hug of acceptance, though never initiated by me. I always made sure I stood up when I saw him scurrying down the hallway toward me, so that the hugs did not occur at face-to-face level.
At the end of each day's session, I would escort him, along with his entire class and regular teacher, down to the parking lot for pick-up by his mother. He would hug me goodbye, too, right alongside their car.
I received the hugs as a blessing.
(I'd show you our picture but I can't post photos here any more.)
Murph
