Rita The Enforcer
It's been a while since I've told you anything about Rita's
Rita went from being a stay at home mom and wife, to a widowed mom and student at the age of 51. She got her Real Estate License and had a wonderful successful career for many years. When she retired from Real Estate...she took up the mantra of the yellow police vest in Huntington Beach CA....
Crossing grade school kids every morning bright and early. Rita was a rule follower all her life, and so, when she raised her red stop sign, she expected the students to follow the rules.
Her first assignment was a crosswalk near an elementary school that was close to the high school. This meant that she would be crossing teenagers as well as grade school students. Of course these older students knew the rules so Rita didn't think they would be a problem. Besides Rita raised five teenagers and just because they gave her some lip once in a while, didn't mean she wasn't cool enough to handle some students she was stopping traffic for.
That first day, as she stepped off the curb, wearing her yellow vest with the word POLICE on the back, and her arm raised high, displaying her red stop sign....some teenage boys came racing up...Rita bellowed into the wind for them to hear.
"Walk your bikes, boys......no riding skateboards in the crosswalk"
Poor Rita was devastated! She knew she had to report this behavior....but she hated doing it...because she wanted to get along with all the students. When she relayed the incident, she was told to ignore the older kids...and she did. No more incidents.
Rita loved her new job and keep it for many years. She loved the kids, and they loved her...giving her all kinds of interesting gifts. One Christmas a little kindergartner gave her a pair of lacy underwear..it was obvious they weren't new, and his mother had no idea he had "re-gifted" her underwear.
Rita loved getting paid for two hours in the morning and two more in the afternoon, even though she worked less than an hour each shift. In CA you have to get paid a minimum of two hours per shift...sweeeeet! This meant Rita was an early bird shopper...getting to the stores before they opened.
As most of you know,Grandma J was a public servant, and because
Grandma J always wanted pictures....but Rita didn't want any at all! Grandma J did capture a couple of Charlie and Rita in Rita's car...waiting for the afternoon shift to begin.
As soon as Rita saw the camera...UP WENT THE STOP SIGN! So, this is the best I can give you of Rita on the job! Yeah, I know, it's a picture of a picture because my scanner is on the fritz.
15 comments:
I love Rita! And I hope those teenagers soon have children of their own who are holy terrors like they were. I would like to kick their... well, you get the picture.
As a rule follower myself, I am troubled that you were bringing an animal to Rita's place of employment, and Im sure he wasnt leashed. Everyone thinks their dog is "friendly"...I know.
Sweet Rita, Im sure when those kids cussed at her she gasped, "Jesus, Mary and Joseph!"
HSH, Charlie was always on a leash. Even when he went to the nursing home and jumped up on the patients beds to share their lunches...he had his leash on.
Rita rocks! I so wished she could have kicked those nasty boys in the shins!!
Rita is my hero.
There's a vague/distant resemblance to Barbara Bush, but my screen is blurry, so it's hard to tell.
I'll bet Rita was a riot at the crosswalk job.
LMAO...Lacy underwear?? Gotta LUV KIDS!
And I bet alot of those kids still remember her! Even a couple of hours a day can leave an impression.
How funny. I see where the great sense of humor comes from. She must have been a hoot!
I watch those crossing guards and wonder where they get their patience. The kids are all over the place and hard to control.
Kudos to Rita.
Colin
Rita was a MUCH better person than me, I would have knocked (just a little nudge and a sorry) them off those bikes. One of the very reasons I didn't go back to work at the school this year. Kids are mouthier and more disrespectful than ever. Growing up we would get spanked by the teachers (actually I was once).
Ha! My mom was a crossing guard for 45 years- 30 of those years in Orange County too! She retired at 87! Once a group of high school kids sped through the intersection and when she yelled to them they flipped her off- she casually lifted her sign so the innocent little ones waiting did not see and flipped off right back. That afternoon one of the kids who was in the car stopped to apologize!
The Husband is a crossing guard after his day job at the boys' school- they don't cuss at him as most are afraid of him already! LOL
I wonder if she ever showed them her teeth?
-Kelly
This was such a lovely story : ). It totally made my day. I love the crossing guards in our neighborhoods. I always wave and smile as I am driving by and I am planning on buying them each a Dunkin Donuts Gift card soon. Old people are the sweetest : ).
I heart Rita!!!
Dang it Kelly! I'm coming for Spring Break which means I won't be able to visit The Husband on the job and cross the kids with him. Maybe I'll stay a few extra days. That would be great blog material...unless he puts the stop sign in front of his face like Rita.
Oh and thank you for the great idea, Rebeckah. You have to be the sweetest person on earth!
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