After I demoted myself from the maelstrom of an elementary school at which I was an LAUSD Plant Manager for over a decade the school threw a going away dinner for a few of us departures. It was in a Don Ricardo's in a mall during an evening. In these several weeks prior to my assignation to the bus lot I was a substitute worker and my supervisor responded to my request to take a vacation day by asking if I'd work day shift. I was assigned to Grant High School, as extra help. I had to chuckle, just coming out of the especially harried end of often struggling elementary schools, but it was a good day.

I fretted over the inevitable speech I'd be asked to give. There had been an unfortunate incident involving a sea gull which the Plant Manager took to a refuge on his way home later and I was thinking of an elaborate metaphor for dealing with troubling and complex issues. I didn't consult the poor bird. That evening I was asked to stand as expected and delivered the following, approximately.

There are schools that are ultra rough some of the time, schools that are somewhat rough all the time---and there is [in the rear view mirror---permission to visualize using one on a bus]. Laughter! I proceeded to say I always wanted what was best, and that was never in dispute, and I was sorry for the times I didn't come across so pleasantly.

They loved it. Oddly, soon thereafter I was asked about working overtime, which can be offered to offsite qualified employees, at Zany School what with their personnel problems and construction money. I had a blast, with my replacement being very positive. He was one of my workers, and a good one, but there were politics involved and he was getting to know his patron the Principal like I did.

Getting the work done, I empathized, in between basking on compliments which kept coming concerning my speech.