In a Flash

They often say that when your time comes your entire life will flash before your eyes. Never having met someone who had this experience and lived to tell the tale, don't know if it is true. However last night I had a flash moment.

Since leaving the job in June 2012, I have gone out of my way to stay far from the school I led for 12 years and from the neighborhood. I must say that when I meet up with former parents, students or teachers I do feel good about their analysis that "things are different " and "it is not the same".

Last night we went to Greenwich to a new restaurant. I made a reservation for 8:15 and we arrived on time. No sooner did we enter the place that I spotted J's brother, his wife and another couple. We exchanged pleasantries and were shown to our table. This was the best seat in the house and I knew that sitting in the front of the place by the open air window, I'd be susceptible to seeing passers-by who might recognize me as the guy formally known as the Principal of Riverside school. Little did I know that I'd hit the, look who it is, jackpot and that by the end of the meal I'd run into people who span the 35 years I have spent in the profession.

First I saw a R family leaving the restaurant, they came over, small talked and I found out that they had decided to move their daughter to another school because, " you were gone". Another couple did the same 10 minutes later.

As the evening wore on 2 couples came by who were very excited to see me and one of the parents made the entire restaurant aware of my presence. Once again we small talked and to the dismay of the waiter we delayed ordering our meal.

Later in the evening there was a flurry of pedestrians as the local movie let out. Sure enough somewhere between the salad and sea scallops 2 couples walked by. The women just happened to be the first two PTA presidents I worked with 35+ years ago when we opened the most progressive school in CT at the time. Unfortunately 35+ years later it still is!

So there you have it an evening in Greenwich where you might say I still have street cred, and the street  just happens to be Greenwich Avenue, where cred is pronounced CREDIBILITY, darling.