Columns

In the newsroom we often hear about stories we aren’t involved in covering, but that doesn’t make them any less intriguing.

This week, that story is the board of education’s decision to switch back to a traditional bussing schedule.

A surprising twist considering our man with the school system, Sam Hickman, had explained the superintendent intended to switch the high school and elementary route times, but remain on a staggered bus schedule.

When I was a kid, the family used to do things as a family, meaning if my older sisters had some activity to go to, the parents volunteered and I got stuck going along, too.

We didn’t bother with babysitters when I was too young to take care of myself. When I was old enough to be left on my own, it meant I was old enough to help out with whatever event we were going to — setting up, breaking down, carrying things to and from the station wagon.

We are dwelling in interesting times, and I don’t mean that ironically. At least I don’t think I do.

I don’t just mean the weather giving us something to talk about — but hasn’t that been interesting? Beach temperatures one cherished, rare winter’s day, then we’re all hunkering down for the big, rare ice storm the next.

The man on the telephone had clearly not rung me up to transmit a valentine.

Interrupting my typing and toiling at the keyboard on the usual deadlines, he delivered, instead, a verbal barrage.

He also provided unsolicited instructions on how I was to write a story from the previous night’s town council meeting (which was on the day’s to-do list, for sure).

He certainly hoped I planned to include details on how the town’s former mayor had gotten out of line at that meeting.