BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Here it is...we have created this. Allowing kids to have everything younger and younger. The most expensive clothes, the best cars, the best phones, expensive trips, play sports every weekend, sacrificing family time, sacrificing time to explain to them true sacrifice, talking bad about teachers, coaches, other parents, preachers and the President. Doing everything for them without teaching them how. Teaching rights instead of respect. Trying to fix every problem they have without letting them learn. Making excuses for poor behavior....we have had a hand in this. Parents please wake up. While not always the case, working with kids I feel adequately able to comment. Respect is rapidly getting lost in every aspect of our lives. It has to start at home! Again...just my take. Have a good one!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Okay parents...it is getting that time again. Every year I come to you on Facebook imploring you to take on your parental responsibility. Shake off your fears and put down the remote. Put away the iPhones, iPads and laptops and you gamers come in from chasing Pokemon. Sit down with that little soul you brought into this world. Take the bull by the horns and teach him/her to tie their shoes! Kids are learning geometry in kindergarten and falling in their lunch trays at lunch from tripping on their strings. The humanity of it all! 

You can do it! Or....you can buy those wonderful inventions that make teachers smile. Yes, I am talking about Velcro! Kind of the "stitch witchery" for tying challenged students. Few more days....Have a good one!

I saw him coming down the hall,
Keeping a pretty good pace,
And what was dragging 10 feet behind,
Yep...the dreaded shoe lace
I thought by now someone would see
The need for him to tie,
But here he is, laces dangling
As another year goes by,
Long shoe laces, tattered ends,
Wrapped around a neighbors toe,
If only his parents would step out of the box
And get him a pair with Velcro!
Teachers would smile, principals rejoice, bus drivers fist bump and yell
What a great day at school
When shoes are secure
And never a student fell!
Make my day, make my year, make all the weeks fly by,
Help us out...we are begging you!
Teach your kids to tie!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

I remember being in this gym and hearing about the happenings in New York that day. I’ll never forget the feeling as the children played. Such innocence in my world. They had no clue what was happening. People were dying and fighting for their lives while they innocently played, unaware through no fault of their own. I think we may become unaware by choice sometime. I know I do. It’s so easy to get content and forget the sacrifices and the tragedies. We must not forget!! Freedoms that we enjoy all have come with a price! The protection we are given is riding on the backs of great sacrifices by men and women and their families! Never forget!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIFE IN ELKMONT

I was on about mile 8 of a 10 miler and climbing a slow hill and noticed I had slowed my pace by 30 seconds. The phrase "It is what it is" ran through my mind. 

Then I began the "runner's rambling in my head" that happens a lot when you leave your ear buds at home. What exactly is "it" and who controls it? I could let this little glitch ruin my whole run. I can beat myself up over it. I can increase my pace, or I can be satisfied and finish strong with what I have left. "It is what I make it" is a phrase I think I will use to replace the first one. 

Today, tomorrow, life in general is all built and gauged on perspective. We may not have total power over circumstances, but we definitely have total power on how we react to them. Coaching kids is a job I love. A lot of it is teaching them to take time to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and to acquire strategies to help these areas. Hope it carries over into their lives. Have a good one!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

I believe no matter how old children get they always want to make their fathers proud. I know it is probably silly to some, but I really have a memory that comes up a lot when I think about my dad and him being proud. Thirty-two years ago, I shared the lead in the senior class play. It was a comedy and we all had a lot of fun performing it. I remember at one point I was on the stage in the old gym at Clements by myself. I was in the middle of a speech and I caught my daddy's eyes. He was standing in the back with a smile that was not only on his face but deep in his eyes. I remember thinking"wow! "He is really liking this!" I knew at that moment he was proud of me. 

It was really one of those rare moments where that connection was made and nothing had to be said. We live for those moments. I think about that day often when I am thinking about dad. Like I said it may sound silly to some but I have said it before he was a man of very few words. I try to remember that when I deal with Jensen. Those will be the moments that stand out in our and our children's lives forever. I miss my dad; I miss telling him things that I know would make him proud. 

On this Father's Day, I want to throw out a challenge to every father to make those moments. Let's tell and show our children how proud we are of them. Constructive criticism is great, but make the most of those moments! Let's show them how proud we are of them. Thanks, Daddy for looking at me in that moment. That moment in a 17 year old boy's life can still bring a warm feeling and a smile after all of these years! Happy Father's Day!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

‘Twas the Monday before Christmas break,
And all through the

school,
Kids were going berserk,
Breaking every rule,
Teachers were getting antsy,

Keep them busy!
That’s the trick ,
What kind of craft can we do?
You know something they can’t lick!
We’ve colored Santa’s, reindeer, and elves,
We’ve colored wreaths, socks, kids playing at dawn,
We’ve talked about gifts, behavior and giving,
And right in the middle gave the Scantron! (I know right?)
Santa better come quickly,
Teachers are begging and pleading,
Our creativity is wearing out!
Our patience is all but fleeting,
 

Tell your kids that school’s still in session,
Their behavior should be just fine,
And parents if I could fill your stocking,
You’d find a guide with rules for car line!
The week creeps by so slowly,
And what should suddenly appear,
CHRISTMAS BREAK..finally approaching ,
And hoping for a great New year !!!

Keep us all in mind!!!
Have a good one !

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

There is always a teacher or teachers that we always look back on and smile. This teacher wrote me this note on the 1st essay we wrote in senior English. I remember reading it and starting to believe in my abilities. I may not have done or ever do great things with my writings but that day I fell in love with it. She gave me a love for writing with just a few comments. Writing and running are my outlets. Sorry but Facebook has given me a captive audience!! Teachers make a difference in our lives! Also educators take note ....personal messages inspire!! Thank you Martha Eubanks aka Mrs. Morrow!!! Always be one of my favorites!!! 

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Easter Sunday! Every year brings back memories of a time gone by. A time when we would all get together at my great Aunt’s home and eat and hunt eggs. In a world where kids can play games on their watches and interact with one another on social media, I don’t believe those family get togethers are as meaningful. We couldn’t wait to see our cousins and aunts and uncles. Is it just me or were the days slower back then? Yeah I know...Nostalgia comes with age. The world is changing. 

It’s foreign to me in a lot ways. Even if I try to keep up, the pace is so fast I fall behind. We are all in a hurry. Rarely is there a day (even in retirement) that I don’t lay down at night and think “I didn’t get to that!” When we lay down in that field of stones what we got done in a day will not matter. How we treat each other, how we help each other, and how we love each other will. One died and was raised for us many years ago that taught this. Gotta quit counting the hours and make the hours count! Have a great Easter Sunday! Give your kids some memories. Give yourself a break! Laugh and love!! Have a good one

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Cup of coffee on the porch listening to the rain. Sweet, peaceful sound of it dripping from the new maple leaves. The sound of rain has always soothed me. I remember the big sky lights in the elementary classrooms at Clements. The rain would drum on those things and I would listen for rhythms. The natural drumming would somehow make me feel safe. I remember riding in the car when I was young and watching the rain drops “race” across the car windows. Always wondered where it went when it made it to the finish. The summer rain on a hot run is always a welcome refreshment. Somehow always brings out the “kid” in me. 

Rain is soothing. Knowing as it falls that somehow it has already been here. It’s already ran down these streams and rivers and been taken back up into the sky and made useful again. Ready to fall and cleanse again. Can almost hear it’s purpose in it’s falling. Reminds me that renewal is a good thing. Renewal of mind, body and soul. Yeah I’m retired....can drink a cup of coffee at 10 pm, lol. Looking out at the green grass...the new growth as the drops fall....reminds me life is good and can start again! That makes me smile. Have a good one!!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

RESPECT...if it’s not taught at home it will never be exemplified. If it’s not allowed to be demanded and consequences given if it is lacking chaos will ensue. Sadly parenting, media, and attitudes of kids are lacking in this. Giving attention to a CHILD who is bent on creating chaos is ridiculous. Giving attention to adults who want to cause this chaos is just as ridiculous. 

Sadly the masses run over themselves to perpetuate this “victim” persona these individuals proclaim to anyone who will listen. Follow the rules guys! Express concerns while following protocol but most of all don’t incite behaviors that are detrimental to all involved! God bless our schools, teachers/administrators and our students !! Have a good one!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Took some flowers by my grandparents grave today. When I was small we would go weekly out to Pleasant Point cemetery and grandaddy would rake and mow the family graves and grandmama would wash the headstones and put flowers on them. She would use Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup jars filled with he fresh cut flowers. She told me it reminded her of Aunt Lou who worked for her daddy and helped raise them. Her mom died of the flu not long after my great aunt Cora was born. She left five kids, grandmama being one of them. 

I would sit beside my great grandmama’s grave while grandmama told me about her. She was also named Cora. I’d listen to grandmama tell stories of her brothers and sisters (two had also died not long after her mom) and soak up those stories. I can still go grave to grave out there and remember what I was told about them. One was called Cousin Carrie who never married and was a health nut way before her time. She would run up and down the stairs for exercise and grandmama said she would order “tonics” out of catalogs. 

She would tell me stories of her mama, her daddy...of her aunts and uncles. I loved it. I may not know where I’m going but thanks to her I sure know where I came from. I didn’t know it then but she was guiding me on a path of loving stories and the emotions and joy that they give me. I didn’t have a Mrs. Butterworth’s jar today. Bought some artificial flowers from the store. I guess they were more for me than for them. Memories are gifts. Those stories are gold. Good grandparents are sent from God. Have a good one!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Ok...so had a first today. I’m running a short 4 miler in Athens today trying to beat the rain. I cross the covered footbridge going to the soccer fields uneventfully. I go around the sportsplex and start back across the bridge to the middle school track. I see two guys playing frisbee golf under the bridge as I start up it. As a prologue I have been binge watching a lot of shows since I retired. The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and Vikings....you know great literary works come to TV😉. Anyway the supernatural and birds go hand in hand in a few of these. 

I start up the bridge and enter and see this black blob come up from Hades itself and go by my head. I hear this awful shrieking and prepare to be a body with no head....popular mode of execution on these particular shows. I feel something brushing my head and I’m sure it’s some kind of supernatural raven! I lose all semblance of manly hood and bob side to side while screaming in an octave only dogs (and apparently frisbee golfers) can hear “get away!” 

My life is flashing before my eyes and I can picture this bird tearing me apart. Granted it’s as big as my hand but still. I stagger out the other side and the guys have ran up to the opening of the bridge. I hear one chuckle and say “it’s only a bird “. Only a bird....only a bird that’s possessed!! Been thinking how it really liked my hair. Need a warning label put on “Just for Men”.....
product may attract sparrows. Got to laugh! Finished before it rained!! Have a good one!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

On the news today I heard where a college coach was put on administrative leave for the way she conducts practice and speaks to her players. She has been coaching since 1986! Bam! There it is. Remember back when we were in school we may not have liked the way our teachers/coaches spoke to us or the rules(which are now labeled expectations by the way) that he or she had but we dealt with it. 

We may have complained to our parents, but our parents were wise enough to know that our lives were going to be filled with people, co-workers and yes...bosses that we may not get along with. We would have to deal with it!!! Not talking about criminal behavior but we live in a society where the athletes and their parents are the gauge by which coaches and teachers guide their practices. On the same news cast a parent was bringing litigation against Disney because the trailer for Dumbo had caused her 10 YEAR OLD SON to have an anxiety attack. It is ridiculous. Let the kids work through these things. They will never function as adults. They all need to live with my daddy for a week or two! He’d straighten it out ! Have a good one!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Ok...man what have I done wrong ... my little dog Belle was barking yesterday morning at her water bowl. This usuallymeans “Hey dad, I’m empty!” “Fill’er up!” So I get a glass of filtered water (yeah..I know) from the fridge door and pour it in. She didn’t drink. Last night we were discussing how she’s not drinking much. She’s getting old (10) and we discussed how I need to take her to the vet and maybe we should start thinking about her as “old”. 

This morning she looks kind of “peek-ed” as my mama used to say so I thought maybe she is sick. I give her her morning pop tart and she chows down. I see her walk toward her water bowl and she looks at it and moves on. I get a little teary eyed thinking about life without Belle. I’m on the couch reliving memories, thinking about how fun she’s been, how she loves her balls, how Jensen will hurt if she passes away. She’s over there basically licking her lips to death. Mouth all dry...coughing. I google “dogs not drinking “ and find out she has about 50 canine diseases and none end in a good way. 

She heads back to her water bowl and just stands and looks. I follow her when I notice a little piece of grass in her bowl. I empty it thinking as long as she lasts she is going to have clean water. I pour out the water and the blade of grass goes with it. I’m filling the bowl thinking “how many more times will I get to do this for her”. I fill it up (filtered water of course) and set the bowl down. She immediately bows down and starts gulping water! She drank the whole bowl! It occurs to me that what I thought was the end of my pet was actually a big “DIVA” moment. 

She wasn’t going to drink from a bowl with grass in it!! She’d rather thirst to death! As a runner I’ve drank from a green stream before!! I’ve drank from coolers full of grass! What have we done?? My dog is too good to drink from a water bowl with grass in it. Spoiled rotten!!Tried to have a discussion with her but she was having none of that. Time to sun her body by the door! SMH! Have a good one!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

The most profound learning moments of my life have more than often been prefaced with a “no” or a disappointment. Never telling our kids no, never allowing them disappointment
and fighting their battles will only lead to heartache for that child. 

I remember being young and getting in a situation where I was caught on the wrong end of a teacher’s paddle. Granted most times I was right where I needed to be, but this particular time I was innocent. Sort of ...Anyway I remember thinking my mom will take care of this. I came home, told her what had happened and sat there expecting an outrage. She calmly looked at me and asked “were you hanging with the people who caused the incident?” “Did you walk away while it was going on?” What? I was innocent. She told me she believed I was innocent. But what actions on my part led to me being perceived as guilty. 

That taught me so much. It has always stuck with me. A few weeks later the teacher told me she found out I didn’t actually commit the “crime.” I realized then that guilt by association is a real thing and even though it may be unjustified,  IT IS LIFE! All of this “trophies for all” and never being hurt and honestly never feeling “less than” or ridiculed is not life. Not being able to deal with it is detrimental. Life is tough. Not knowing how to handle it is tougher. Being strong enough to handle it is a must! Have a good one!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Went to watch West Limestone play in the regional tournament at Wallace State few weeks ago. They won! Great game! Looking at the kids and the seniors and started thinking about high school and friends. Yeah...it’s been a minute. Will be 33 years this year. That doesn’t seem possible. 

I was thinking about senior year and an infamous “skip” day. My friend Brian Holt and I had decided we were going to skip and go to Dexter’s apartment at UNA. I’m pretty sure I told mama while she was running bath water or using the mixer. Brian told his mom, Charlene. Well we skipped and went and laid out by the pool with our farmer’s tans and towels. Pretty uneventful but better than school. Back then the procedure was when you missed a day you carried your excuse to Mrs. Nanette McBay ( who was better than Matlock at sniffing out a fake) and she gave you a small white square that you had every teacher, every period sign. It was marked excused or unexcused. Well..there were days mama or daddy were in such a hurry that they “forgot” to write me an excuse. It was for that reason(and that reason only) that I had practiced and practiced their signatures....yeah...that’s it 😉. 

Well what do you know...they forgot that day. I had to write my own excuse about being sick(you know...sore throat) and sign it for Mrs McBay. The next day it just so happens Brian and I end up in line, me in front of him, to give our notes to Mrs. McBay. I hand her mine , cough a little and clear my throat , while she eyes my sunburned arms and raccoon eyed burned face and get a note marked excused. Brian then hands her his. I’m walking out the door and she says “Barry,”. “Come back”. She asks for the note and marks it unexcused. I’m in shock. I look at Brian puzzled and he just shrugs and said mine is unexcused too. I turn to Mrs. McBay and she shows me Brian’s excuse. Seems his mom had not forgotten. And he had NEVER practiced her signature just in case. He gave her an excuse his mom had written!!! It said “Brian and Barry skipped school yesterday!” Busted!! He never looked at the note!! Still can’t believe it! Have a good one!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

It’s March 6th. I’ll never forget March 6th 1979. It was a Tuesday and I was practicing for the school spelling bee in Gail Wunderlich’s 5th grade classroom. I needed her for something and as many kids do I said “mom” by mistake. She looked up and said “what son?” From that day on she always called me son. The rest of my school career she would give me birthday cards and I would always give her a Mother’s Day card. When she signed my senior year book she called me one of the “lights” of her life. Every and I mean every first day of school I always went to her room to tell her “hey!” She developed a relationship with me that influenced me through out my school career. She made me actually feel “worth” something and gave value to my good behavior and desire to learn through her actions. 

I never had a trip to the treasure box...never got a sticker ... never received any extrinsic kind of token for behavior. She gave me thumbs up, pats on the shoulder and “great jobs”. When I wasn’t in her room and older she always called me by name or “son” in the hallway. She always made sure I was well and gave me a place to go if I needed some “I’m OK” reassurance. She cared. I knew it. I wasn’t the only one. She did it for all her students. Through her love for us we developed a love for ourselves. And that is what educating a child to become an adult who can live and thrive in this world is all about. Loving them enough that they learn to love themselves. Doesn’t mean never disciplining. Doesn’t mean being “easy”. It means caring for and molding children to function in this world. She left this world way to early! I miss her. I think about her almost daily. You know....she got it! She absolutely got it! Education and teaching is so much more than books and tests. It’s relationships! One I’ll cherish and never forget! We need each other!! Have a good one!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Ok...my early 80’s skating friends....do you remember these?? I will never forget saving my money to get one of these. Got $5 a week from my grandmother for mowing her grass. It was $1.25 to get in the skating rink and you could get a drink and a slice of pizza for .50 at the concession stand. After that I had $3.25 left. Never will forget the Panama Jack shirts at Bennett’s were $16. Took me over a month to save up but I did and I got one. I was 15 years old and irresistible (right) after bathing in CHAPS cologne from Big B drugs and sporting my Sedgefield jeans from Rogers Dept store. Had my Jordache belt on that came in a pack of 3 colors and you just changed the buckle. I’d get out of the car and the line to get in would be wrapped around the skating rink’s corner. I bet you could smell me before you saw me. I can still smell the inside of that skating rink. Jack Collins owned the place and made sure all of our shirts were tucked in. Caught me holding hands one time with my girl and I remember it like it was yesterday, he said “you got pockets if your hands are cold!” He ran a tight ship and parents didn’t worry about us while we were there. From Robyn Terry’s birthday parties to the all night skates, we had a great time. I remember we would be shoulder to shoulder at times skating. This was extremely dangerous if you were by my friend, Jeanie Butler. She kicked when she skated. She could take down half the floor with one kick on nights like that. Those were some great times! Wish there were places like that for young people now. Made a lot of memories there in my Panama Jack shirt! Have a good one !!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

I saw a young man today at Publix that I had taught many years ago. He was putting his own child into the shopping cart. His eyes lit up and he said “Coach Pugh”. “Do you remember when you told my whole class that you used to be tall?” “You told us it was a lawn mower accident and it cut the bottom part of your legs off and they just moved your feet up and put them back on”. He said he spent two years looking at my legs for the scars....


I’m sorry...just sorry....

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Christmas is close. School is about to be out for a while. People are buying gifts, preparing food, and making plans. Today as the small kids watched the Polar Express and the bigger ones went to the Monaco to watch the Grinch, I was given some free time. I sat and reflected on the years and the students who I’ve been associated with. Many over the years, many Christmases in those years. I’ve seen the generosity of people who have given presents to those less fortunate. I’ve also seen people give of themselves. 

 

Heard stories today that many of our kids had their first visit to Bridge Street to see the fountain, to see the decorations. Many sat in their first movie theater ever. Bikes, clothes, toys serve their purpose; experiences move souls. Never forget a kid I coached who had never stayed in a hotel until he was with me at the Alabama State Track Championships. His eyes lit up at 16 years old and he asked , “Is it like on TV?” when he found out we were going to Disney the next year. 

Love to watch their faces when the wonder of seeing something new comes over them. Just a simple “you look nice” can give a kid a boost he or she may need. As we think about “giving” this Christmas, we need to remember experiences are a gift. Making someone feel good is a gift. We may forget what someone gave us, but rarely forget how someone made us feel. Good day for a lot of kids at Elkmont Elementary today! Don’t need a lot of money to give someone something! We can all make someone feel good. One person at a time !!! Have a good one.