His real name’s not Harold, but due to privacy issues, I probably shouldn’t broadcast it over cyberspace. Calling him Harold gives you the gist, because I’m not talking about a 73 year-old man here. Harold is 5. He’s one of my kids. One of my favorites, actually, which is kind of surprising considering what a distraction he is in the classroom. He rambles on incoherently about everything and nothing, he rarely raises his hand, he is a whirl of constant motion, he has little concept of classroom etiquette and social norms. Sadly, the other kids have noticed he’s a little odd.
But I love the rascal. Everything Harold does is done with a sweetness and sincerity and abandon I’ve rarely seen. His wide eyes take in life enthusiastically (if a tad cluelessly) and he usually sports a charming huge gap-toothed grin. His hair is usually matted down in places and sticking straight up in others, adding a bit of Norman Rockwellian whimsy to his persona. He laughs easily and hands out hugs just as freely. Everyone – teachers, classmates, the substitute – is “my friend” (even if they don’t necessarily think so).
Last Monday as the children were coming into the room, I saw that some looked a little draggy. I began asking them one by one if they were sad or happy. When I got to Harold, sitting in the center of the room Indian style, his back straight, eyes wide, I asked, “Harold are you sad today?”
“No, I’m HAPPY!” He leapt to his feet.
“Harold, why are you happy?”
He flung his arms wide. “I took a shower today!”
“You took a shower?”
He was nearly jumping up and down with barely corralled energy. “Yeah! And then I came to school!”
I sat there and laughed. A shower and school. Two very good reasons to be happy.
Harold is going to be leaving us soon for another classroom where he can get the kind of special education he needs. I’m going to miss that sweet little boy with the old man’s name.
I’m going to miss my friend.
Made for Eternity 
Saturday night 12/01 — My busy busy granddaughter, we miss your blogs. It’s only the beginning of many many memories you will accumulate if you stay in the educational field very far into your future as I refer to this one. Your loving grandpa.