Bi-Level Haircuts, School Zones, and Lynette

I have seen her almost every morning since the school year began. She is out there in the rain, snow, and the heat with whistle around neck and stop sign in hand - she makes sure that the children going to Hudson Middle School and Sewell Elementary School get across the street without incident. She is the crossing guard and I had always planned on having her be one of my strangers to met, but I never seemed to get around to it. And truth be told, I was more times than not usually still in my pajama bottoms (which are lounge pants) and sweatshirt when I drop Grayson and her car pool companions off. However, I had my opportunity to meet her on Friday night - no not after school, but Friday night after Grayson's play. The cast were having their taking photos and I was at the back of the auditorium when I noticed her talking to some other parents. So I waited until she was finished and I walked over and said, "You are the cross-walk lady, right?" And she said, "Yes, I had to come support my kids. The ones who cross the street." I told her that I had see her everyday and wonder about her on the days that she is gone. And then, I extended my hand and told her that my name was Donna. She extended her hand as well and I was shaking hands with Lynette. I chuckled when I said that I would have stopped sooner to meet, but I was usually in my lounge pants and sweatshirt. She said she had seen worse - she even once saw a man in his t-shirt and boxers. Oh boy, I think that I could have even found enough time to get my drawers covered. She went on to explain that she is not an employee of the school district, but is actually employed by the Sachse Police Department and has been doing it for five years. I was surprised because I thought cross guards were employed by the school district and she said that most were, but not in Sachse. She has even gone to court to testify when people wanted to contest the tickets they receive in school zones. I am sure she could tell a story or two about the stuff she sees. I thanked her for coming to the play and told her that I would give her a shout out on Monday morning when dropped off the girls.

So this morning, as we approached the school and the cross-walk, I rolled my window down. As I got ready to turn the corner - I yelled out my window, "Hey Lynette. How's it going?" She hollered back, "Hey girl, good to see you." As I rolled my window back up, Grayson in a mortified squeal says, "What are you doing, Mom?" I said I met Lynette on Friday night at the play and promised to give her a shout out this morning. I truly think that if all three girls could have - they would have crawled in the trunk or under the flat - right there.....they were embarrassed that I had the nerve to call out to her. They told me she had funny haircut and I said oh no, she doesn't - I had a bi-level (now sometimes called a mullet. However, a mullet is totally different than bi-level) when I was in college and it was stylish. Gray stated - that was a long time ago. I figure if you have ever worn a bi-level haircut - you have to stand-up for those chicks that still do. Unless of course they are in prison and have a nickname of Tank; head-up a motorcycle gang and are named Tiny; or Kate Gosselin who wears the reverse mullet - I think they can all stick up for themselves and don't need my support.

I got the girls dropped off and as I cruised through the intersection, I gave a Lynette a wave good-bye. And here is where I get on my soap-box about school zones. I think people who go over the speed limit in school zones are punks, I think that tickets for speeding in school zones should start at $500, and to confirm - I honk at people who speed through school zones. Slow down going through school zones - they are children; not deers bounding through a field.