“Stew in your own juice,” “cook an egg on the sidewalk,” “sweating like a horse,” “hotter than….”. OK, enough platitudes, you get the point, I’m sure. No point in “beating a dead horse.” Oops…I said “enough platitudes,” so I’ll get on with it.
From corresponding and talking with folks in the
Two days, last week, the temperature went to 104 degrees with a heat index of 112 and 113 respectively. In addition to the heat, I was working in
Between refereeing and trying to lead the kids from one activity to another at VBS, I was one drippy, cranky old woman by the end of the week. Fortunately, the Lord took pity on us and sent a refreshing cold front through on Friday along with an inch of rain. It’s a good thing He did because I had planned to do some duct taping Friday. (Don’t tell the preacher.)
Of course, I’m exaggerating my crankiness. I really wouldn’t have duct taped those precious little angels, but I might have been guilty of taking along some taffy to feed them. You know how sticky and chewy warm taffy gets. Of course, they would have put it in each other’s hair.
I did have some very well behaved children in my group, for the most part. One little girl who is going into kindergarten this year was precious. She was a cute little blue-eyed blonde with a 1920s bob hairdo. I don’t know if kids are smarter today, but I can assure you she is an advanced little girl. She could read, print and follow directions like a second grader. She had one other interesting characteristic. Each time we would end one activity and get ready for another, she would ask me if it was snack time. Bear in mind that we fed them supper before VBS got underway each day. By the end of the first day, I was asking where the snacks were myself. I think she rubbed off on me.
On the next to last day, we were taking photos of the different groups, and my “Ruby” group was first. Those little gems were impossible to get into a group for a photo shoot. It was like herding a bunch of goats. By the time I got two settled into line and turned to grab another, the other two had wandered off to parts unknown. It was an interesting day. Having taken photos many times of groups of kids, I do know how to get them together, but it’s kind of ugly to raise one’s voice in church. At least, when two of the preachers are near by observing the action.
One little boy named Josh kept getting lost. All week long I looked for that kid. We would go from Bible story time to crafts, and I would lose him en route. I’m uncertain how he managed to do his Houdini act, but I was always searching for him. Once he was lying down in two chairs under a table. Another time, he had taken his shoes off and was sitting on the counter in the kitchen eating left over bananas from supper. Yet another time, he embedded himself with the Emerald group. Since he was a large as the boys in that group, he was hard to find. Finally, I got his beach hat that the kids all got at VBS and wrote his name on it in big black letters. From then on, I could spot Josh except when he was hiding on purpose.
Frankly, VBS was a good experience for me. I learned a lot. I learned that I am too old to take care of several little kids at one time. I also learned that they can outsmart me unless I stay on the alert. I also learned that I don’t want to do that again next year. I decided this year is my swan song—if I don’t quit, I will literally be singing my swan song. I am simply too slow to keep up with kids that age, so I’m hanging up my duct tape. Besides, as I’ve said many times before, I don’t look good in orange coveralls with LCI (the local prison) in big black letters on the back. Either that or I’d end up a screaming memmie surrounded by white coats.
Oh, and by the way, you can add, “having a heat stroke”, to the platitudes above ‘cause I must have had one prior to volunteering to work at VBS in late July!
Now go grab a big tall glass of sweetened ice tea and drink one for me.