Sunday hockey group: (l-r) Ryan, Josh, Greg and Tad. Click to enlarge
It was an ordinary day. Just got out of my car and I heard ... "Hey, Mr. Woods! Over here!" I turned and headed toward the Lexus parked by the rink. "We thought that was you. Tad told us you were coming today." Wasn't long before I was shaking hands with Ryan and Greg who I had as students in my Graphic Arts class in 1993-94. And then Tad pulled into the parking lot with Josh not far behind. I had come today to take some photos as well as watch my son and his friends play roller hockey in an outdoor rink near Lancaster. These three guys, along with my son Paul, who we all call Tad, have been playing hockey year round for the past ... seems like forever. When Tad was 10 years old he asked if he could try playing ice hockey. Wasn't long before he and Josh were on the same team and played together for many years. They still gather every Sunday morning at 10:00 am with about half a dozen or so other guys of all ages to have a friendly game of roller hockey.
My son Tad
I had visited a time or two in the past, but when Tad told me that Josh, Ryan and Greg were all going to be at the rink today, I knew I had to show up with my camera for a group shot. It was back when these guys were seniors in high school that I had all of them in the same Graphic Arts class together. We met for class from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm and then broke for lunch. During that 90 minute period all students in the school would have class for an hour and lunch for 30 minutes. Since I did many odd jobs for the principal, he always let me eat when I wanted. Always picked the final lunch period, since I could tell my class they wouldn't go to lunch on time if they misbehaved.
Josh
I also told them that if they did well in class and had the shop clean at the end of class, I would allow them to go lunch a minute or two early. The lunch room was directly next to my shop so a minute head-start always put them in the front of the lunch line. Just about time to eat and everyone in class was seated waiting for me to say ... "Let's eat!" Out the door they'd go in a hurry. One day my son had forgotten his lunch money and just before it was time for lunch he came to me, held out his hand and asked for money. Gave him lunch money and as he turned to sit down, there were the other three guys standing with their hands out. We had a great time in class and I would like to think they learned quite a bit in class that year.
Ryan
And then, a few months ago, a girl whom I had in my Black/White Photography class found a photo of me that her mother, a cafeteria worker, had taken of me on my way to the cafeteria with my shop apron in place. She posted it on Facebook and wouldn't you know it ... there was a response that read ... Let's Eat! Looked and saw it was from Greg. I responded saying I knew it had to one of my lunch group. Well, I got a group photo of the four guys in front of the hockey net and then hung around to watch some of the game. These guys amaze me with their energy, talent and sportsmanship. Most of the players today were close to 25 to 30 years younger than me, but they all stopped to shake my hand and say "Hi!" I really had a great time and it was great seeing the old lunch bunch once again. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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