“One flew east, one flew west, one flew over the cuckoo’s nest”. The idea for this blog title came to me last April as I was down by the water at my place watching the early morning bird fly. Yes, it has been about six months since I have written, and the world as fundamentally changed to a degree that no one can fully grasp now.
So, what is new? First the job subbing at the local schools: after three weeks last March, the state, county and island went into lock down. The schools closed, and my upcoming census job was postponed. But of course, the town elders encouraged people to come event though the beaches were closed, but I won’t go off on a tirade now. Joan did not do well with her routine disrupted and regressed behaviorally. However, she had bounced back and is doing well now that she is back in class and back to her routine. She has a new para who fantastic and he is doing wonders.
Needless, activities were curtailed, and I was in watching TV with all Covid19 related commercials. I won’t go on since everyone was in the same boat. I have not been to Cool Cats since before Jake died (January). It got old, with a tiny place, no food, no sports packages and the reminder of a kid who took his life in his prime. Don’t forget that all the times I was there, a buy back, Yeah right). I do have a few friends that are bartenders who sometimes “forget” to add a drink or two to my tab.
After things reopened, I hang sometimes at Coconutz, best wings and a killer pulled pork wrap while only being a few minutes away instead of the drive from the south end. They also have over a dozen TVs that gets every sporting event.
In July, I was finally called by the Census people to be an Enumerator (the person with the dopey bag knocking on your door if you did not return your census form. But as far as most others worked, my gig was cake. I was issued a phone and did the vast amount of training online. I was given my daily assignments online and I entered my data electronically. Here is the good part. I was assigned only cases on Hilton Head and in reality, I only dealt with a few people. My first few days, I was assigned my own complex on days of heat indexes of over 100 degrees with 90%+ humidity. Anyone who knows Hilton Head knows it is that is home to many, many rental properties where the owners fail to return their information, thus generating a visit. I quickly found the pattern in the chaos and my job became much easier with little human interaction. At the Spa, I quickly identified the vacation rentals and was able to enter all my date from my condo. During my tenure I was assigned several resort communities. The Hilton Head Beach and Tennis was exceptionally easy as I would make a list and give to the owner services director and she would confirm the whole list. I would sit outside on their shaded deck on gorgeous days entering data. There were days where I would be sent to empty lots, houses under construction, or places in the woods where Jason would not go. Well that all ended on 10/3 which coincided with the schools reopening here.
I am current a building-based sub in the middle school where Stefani goes. They have half the kids in 2 days week and 3 days online, and the other half do the same. Since half of the kids go fully virtual, and the balance split, classes here are 1/2 of normal each day. I usually have 10-12 kids, sometimes less, sometimes more. The 6th graders are new and the first few days they did know what to make of their new surroundings. The Cafeteria is temporarily closed, and kids eat during their free period in the classroom. I had to boot one kid out of class yesterday because he had no plans on working and was totally disrespectful. He obvious did know me and my lack of tolerance for those who are hellbent of causing issues. Needless to say, not a peep out of the other kids. Just a word on Hilton Head Middle School. The staff here is amazing, which is why I chose to be based here. In Beaufort County, the handling of substitute teacher is handled by a private company and a Sub can choose from available assignments. Having Stefani here and Joan next door makes thing convenient of days where they are with me.
The election is approaching, and I won’t get into politics, but I will be happy when it is over. I can’t stand all the commercials of TV and YouTube. Election and Covid19 fatigue is killing me. I don’t see SD in Savannah much as I don’t get down often and she works a weekend job which is keeping her busy. We had a trip to Jacksonville and St. Augustine in May as well as a day trip to St. Mary Ga, on the boarder with Florida. We still share the Hokies and I keep her informed when the game is on and she cannot watch it. I sometimes play pool with HV, who is a bartender here and she is a great kid (29). A hard worker from South Bend and an artist.
You are probably asking about Watts. She is in Virginia and we don’t speak that much as we did. We keep tabs on each other and a trip up there sometime in ’21 needs to happen. I do miss her craziness.
This is the second day I am writing this and on Wednesdays no kids are in not class but have a virtual day. I feel like I am in a Twilight episode where the guy’s car breaks down in a town that is totally deserted. I am in the media center, which is where I stay when I am not covering a class. I call it the “bullpen” because I do get calls in a pinch to cover a class or help with some other task. The Librarian is young and a big fan of pop culture (80s-00s). She is very entertaining to say the least. Saturday, VT will be playing Wake Forest and the Hokies are looking good. As of now, their schedule looks good except of course Clemson. It is hard having the best team in the nation in your conference and without divisions this year, I am hoping for second place in a large field of schools, and a good bowl appearance.
Well enough for now since I don’t want to ramble on and need to write more often. Every six months doesn’t cut it with the purpose of this blog. Election day is 13 days away, God help us.
John Scarso Hilton Head Island October 21, 2020
Yankee in Dixie 