Lessons Learned At The School Bus Stop

Lessons learned at the School Bus Stop

By June Kempf

Here I am sitting on the front porch of my daughter’s house waiting for the school bus with my granddaughter, G.G. (Gorgeous Granddaughter) My attention is split between the time and the street corner, hoping the bus would come before she drives me crazier than I already am for signing up for this detail in the first place – really?  I cherish these moments we share talking and bonding. I may never get to do this again; but this morning she started off asking “How old are you and Pop Pop?  When I answered her, she swung into gear with a slew of more serious questions.

“Do you remember Martin Luther King?” 

She was amazed when I answered. ‘Sure do.”

“When he was alive? You watched him on TV? You remember his march in Washington. You were here – alive when it  all happened? 

I teared up a bit as I quoted, “I had a dream.” Then, admitted that I wished I could have done more for the movement and how much I admired the people I knew who marched and fought for freedom and civil rights back then.  As she struggled with the very idea that her grandma lived and witnessed her history lesson, I heard the words to Aretha’s ‘ R_E_S_P_E_C_T’ tumble around my brain , as well as so many freedom songs of the sixties. I softly sang to G.G.‘If I Had a Hammer’. This triggered more curiosity.

“How did you feel when he got shot?”

“My God, G G, I was scared. I thought there would be chaos - rioting all over the country - and that the cause for freedom would be lost forever.”

“.. But that didn’t happen, right?”

“Actually the message got through. Our leaders listened. Laws were passed laws that not only inspired racial tolerance, but protected the poor and disabled throughout the country.” G G stared at me, carefully studying me like she just came across a fragile relic at an archeological dig. I could almost see the wheels turning in her head. This was sinking in.

“Do you remember Woodstock?”

I changed my tune to Barry McGuire’s, ‘The Eve of Destruction’  “…over and over and over…“ She was covering her ears by now, but couldn’t resist asking. “Did you go there?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

I explained that I was a little older than most of the people who caravanned upstate in 1969.  And that I was married with a child and a house and…Her eyes started to roll. ..But that I was there in spirit.  I also told her that I didn’t approve of the drugs and behavior.  Blah. Blah, Blah. 

“Do you remember the war?” 

Is that bus ever going to get here, I thought.

“Which war?” I said.   She looked puzzled. I don’t think she knew that I could recall so many ‘conflicts’.

“Were you a Dove or a Hawk?” she said. 

Just then the bus appeared. “I don’t have time to explain,” I said.  

“Never mind, Mema… I know you were no Hawk. “

How could she know that? Especially since in the beginning I was one of those who thought we were going to flush those Commies right out of Vietnam in a flash. That we were fighting a good war!  Once I saw the destruction and realized that the privileged were able to avoid the draft and that we were losing at a terrible cost, I leaned towards the bird of peace. But I never really committed myself either way. I stayed perched safely right on the fence. Did I get out and march - face the fire hoses or even write one letter of protest? 

I would talk to her tomorrow. Maybe I would let her know that during those days,   I didn’t speak out for fear of offending my friends and neighbors. I held my tongue. Will my granddaughter understand when I tell her that the bird I was most closely connected to - was a chicken?

I think tomorrow I might tell her that it is never too late to take a stand. I think she needs to know that as history repeats itself, freedom cannot be taken for granted. I will tell her that our forefathers fought and died to preserve our God given rights. I might say, “Don’t be afraid to speak out for the freedom and justice we must cherish and preserve as Americans.

Thank you Dr .Martin Luther King - You too Peter.Paul and Mary, Aretha – Barry. . 

And thank you God, for G.G.

June Capossela Kempf currently living in Saint James, has been a Smithtown resident for over 40 years.  She  is the author of two books.a memoir, ‘Yo God Jay’s Story’ and soon to be released: ‘Lady of the Dollhouse’.She also freelances for various periodicals, locally and nationally. As facilitator of the Smithtown Library Adult Writers Group, she loves meeting with local writers who share their works, constructive ‘critique’ and support..