Jerry Ochs
A Personal Journal Reflecting On Aging
June 8 | June 9 | June 10

	Reflections of Jerry Ochs June 6: A Long Day June 7: A Halt In Construction June 8: Relationshops Developed Over Time June 9: Disrupting the Routine June 10: Hot Issue: School Busing June 14: A Father's Day Gift June 16: Lawn Care

Interesting point to make here: when I walked into the planning and zoning room (engineering department) I greeted, by first name, Paula, Susie, City Commissioner Pat Klabo, and the city zoning director himself, Mr. Brett Bill. Later during our discussion, the city engineer, Mr. Robbin Bobzine, entered the room and joined the conversation.

The reason I know all of these people, plus the mayor, and all the city commissioners, is the fact that during my career as Audio-Visual Director for the Aberdeen Public Schools, I televised more than 1,400 consecutive City Commission meetings on Cable Channel 7, Aberdeen Public Schools TV, which I started in 1975. (It was the first such cable channel in the state of South Dakota!) The city commission meets every Monday night at 6:30 pm. I feel proud that I have developed such a relationship with so many fine people of the city of Aberdeen through the medium of television, having worked with so many of them either directly or indirectly.

I came home and checked email and made some phone calls regarding School Board business, as I am seeking the presidency of the Aberdeen Public School Board; as it stands now, I think I have the necessary 4 votes to acquire this position on a seven-member board. I think I have the leadership qualities to do the job, some of which include a veteran of 4 years in the US Air Force, a teacher for 30 years, a school district department head, three years as president of the Aberdeen YMCA, plus many positions involving leadership roles in state AAU.

June 9: Disrupting the Routine
This morning a "friend" called to inform me that if we hurried, we could rent a tiller with which to plow up some ground in her backyard in which to plant a garden. OK, why not? (I am a very "routine" person, and this required that I forgo my morning coffee and newspaper-reading ritual, which disturbed me somewhat!

However, as I sit typing this journal entry, with severe weather warnings about, including tornadoe warnings, I realize that we should never sweat the small stuff!)

Anyway, I picked up my friend, and we proceeded to the rental place and picked-up the tiller. Tilled the garden plot, returned the tiller, returned to my "friend's" home and had lunch, after which we planted the garden. I know that in September, October, and November, the fruits of our labor will be greatly appreciated! What is better than fresh from the garden?

June 10: Hot Issue: School Busing
This morning's newspaper features a front-page story regarding school district busing of parochial students on local public-school buses. The reason that was of interest to me is the fact that I am a member of the school district school board, and this issue of "separation of church and state" will be discussed at our June 29 meeting. This is a hot issue, as one might expect!

Later, I went to my "friend's" home, had lunch, afterwhich I "sculptured" (trimmed) all hedges located on boulevard and in the front and back yards. It looks 100% better. I felt good, as my female friend does not have the time (nor talent) to do this!

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