BALL CAMP ELEMENTARY AT A DIFFERENT TIME

 Someone the other day asked several questions about Ball Camp Elementary School. Several people responded with answers and new topics of discussion. I put my “two-cents” in on one of the questions. I graduated from Karns High School, but I might just be prouder to have spent those first years as a BC Bulldog.  

The school’s beginnings came around the time of the Civil War. Different buildings have served as the school, but the permanent site became the one at the intersection of Ball Camp Pike, Middlebrook Pike, and Lovell Road. The building was erected sometime in the early years of the last century. A fire in 1963 Led to a major overhaul of the school, and the school has undergone several more changes.  

We who are older loved the school. It was our home for eight years, That’s right; back in the day, Ball Camp taught students in grades 1-8. Those of us who reached that final year before high school were always proud to be Bulldogs.  

Before the fire, the school had two front entrances. Classrooms sat at the front of the school, and the office was also there.  The gym was on the other side of the hall, and it was the place for exciting basketball games. The girls played half-court ball, and we had one of the best teams around with such players as Brenda Wagner and Mary Ann Jones, who gave other teams problems guarding them. My mother, who began her teaching career the year Jim and I entered first grade, sold small brown bags of the best-tasting popcorn during the games. 

Students who attended Ball Camp Elementary lived in the small community. Some of us went to the same churches. The key was that Ball Camp Elementary was the focal point of the community. It had tough teachers who prepared students for high school. Mrs. Slusher was the hardest, meanest teacher in the school. She’d swat bottoms of students who failed to do homework. Although her grammar and pronunciation of words might not always be perfect, she insisted that her students be perfect in their homework. In high school, students who had Mrs. Slusher as a teacher encountered few problems with language arts in high school.  

Before and after school, games of softball always were underway. Back then, the field in front of the school seemed so large, but now I wonder how games could be played in the cramped confines of the play area. High school students waited for buses to take them to Karns High, and they hung out at the edge of the school driveway. Fights broke out, but no one hurried to break them up for fear of being harmed themselves.  

Dan Strange was principal. He had a rim of graying hair and wore glasses. Mr. Strange talked out of the side of his mouth. One year, an outbreak of hepatitis hit, and Mr. Strange was charged with talking to boys about hygiene. He cocked his mouth and gave a talk on how we should flush urinals with either our feet or elbows. I can still vividly see him as his elbow made a striking motion to simulate the act of flushing.  

Unfortunatley, Cedar Bluff opened during out 8th grad year. It marked the beginning of huge changes in Knox County Schools. Middle schools took students from their regular elementary schools. That hurt the children who had close identities with those other schools. Since then, much of the closeness of communities died as children were sent to middle schools in the generally vicinity of their homes.  

Yes, we older folks have much fonder memories of our elementary school years because we spent them with our close friends. Perhaps a return to community schools could help students to like school much better and might lead them to perform better in classes. Some of life’s best memories come from the years I spent at Ball Camp. I’m thankful to have had that kind of educational experience.  

MY JOB IS THE BEST

 I have the best part time job. No, the pay isn’t that good, and for most people the hours are lousy. With that said, I still believe that I’m fortunate to have this job. 

My job is to mow the tee boxes at Knoxville Municipal Golf Course, Jim, my twin brother, has mowed the greens either on weekends or during summers for twenty years. I'm new in that my tenure is only five years. Some holes have four separate boxes, while others have one large area for all four types of players.  

The people with whom I work make the job special. Brent Maples is the superintendent. Anyone who thinks he or she is able to do the job must realize the hours that are required. Brent usually returns during the evening hours to complete a job. Brent has a degree with a specialty in golf turf. He is a perfectionist, and that sometimes causes his hackles to get up. He’s been patient with me, especially when I’ve made a mistake or disabled a mower.  

Along with brother Jim, Jack, Jerry, Tom, Jeff, Evan, and a new boy arrive every day. The exceptions are rainy days, but even during those times some of us show up to make sure we’re not working. I’ve seen days when the rain poured at my home but not a drop fell just a few miles away. We cut up and tease each other. Each person is willing to help out others when a problem arises.  

The people in the club house are good folks too. Candice is always pleasant with a kind word and a smile. Aaron is ready to help any golfer or worker with tee times. Even Lee, who sounds grumpy only because his voice has a growl to it, will bend over backward to back up workers and serve customers.  

Another good thing about this job is the hours. I rise each workday at 5 a.m. and arrive at the course about 5:30. As soon as someone opens the barn, I’ hope on the mower. My goal is to finish all the boxes before the first golfer tees off. Most days, I have to wait a couple of times at least after folks catch me. If things work perfectly, I can usually finish my work in about 3 ½ hours. At the end of mowing, I have to wash up the mower. I dislike this chore most because I always wind up half soaked from the spray of the hose. I’m a morning person, so by 2:00 p.m. I’m toast and ready for a nap or a long sitting session by the pool.  

The best part of my job is being able to travel the golf course during the beginning of a new day. Nothing is much prettier than the sun rising on a dew-covered fairway. On several occasions, I take a break to watch a turkey and his harem slowly walk across Hole Number 14 on their ways to the woods. Even more exciting to me is watching a lone doe munch on grass and other things in the overgrown area just passed Hole Number 3 tee boxes. Before long, a mower or tractor or golf cart will cause the skiddish animal to turn toward thicker covering that offers security. 

Yes, the job required little thinking. That’s a plus. I appreciate Brent for hiring me and giving me an opportunity to enjoy the people with whom I work. It’s a great job that doesn’t have demands on me. I do what I’m told and go home. After a career of teaching high school English, something simple is perfect for me.  

DIFFERENT KIND OF SUMMER

 This summer has been different. I shouldn’t call it summer because so far, we haven’t had anything approaching a typical summer day. During this time of year, I’ve undertaken some major projects. The jury is out on how they will prove successful.  

By this time of the month, June 25, our area has already experienced plenty of hot weather. However, only a couple of days have had temperatures close to summertime heat. For a while, all we had was rain, and then one day the spigot shut off. We’d gone through weeks with no rain. Now, the rain has been falling for a week and is supposed to continue into the next one. Then the forecast shows that those hot days of the season will descend upon us.  

Usually, I spend every afternoon and evening in our pool or sitting in a shaded area close to it. So far, the number of times I’ve breached the icy cold water can be counted on one hand. For some reason, the ability to just walk right in and let the cold water envelop me isn’t so appealing. I’m looking for temperatures that are more around the area of bathwater.  

Amy has complained that her office is cold. I used that office for years and agree that the space is usually cooler than any other place in the house. To remedy the problem, I bought roles of pink insulation, climbed up a ladder and stuffed the pink stuff between the floor joist that also serve as the ceiling for the basement. Climbing up and down a ladder all day wears out my skinny legs, and night times are filled with fits of cramps in old muscles. The little wires that are supposed to hold the insulation in place work fine if they are placed in the right place in the right manner. I dropped fifty of them on the floor, and another large number of them fell from where I’d placed them. I hope that the insulation works after all this work.   

Some of the deck boards have rotted or are becoming soggy. I replaced several of them last fall and thought that would be the end of the problem. This year, to my dismay, other boards are giving up the ghost, and I thought about replacing them. Then I made the decision to replace the floor and the 9 steps that lead to the pool deck with Trex.  

The process of installing composite decking looked simple enough. I’ve watched half a dozen videos on YouTube and felt comfortable in taking on the project. Although the stuff isn’t cheap, it will last for my remaining days on this earth. The spacers cost another fortune, but they help to maintain an even space between each board.  

The worst part of the project and the one that has sapped all my energy is the destruction phase. DIY shows always make destroying existing things look so easy. My experience is that removing many of the screws from the boards is impossible. They are rusted so that the heads snap from the bodies, or they strip and make removal impossible. The neighbors have heard grunting and cursing from my back yard as I struggle with this demolition.  

During the past week, I’ve managed to remove about ten boards and set six pieces of Trex. I’m getting better with the destruction part as I learned that taking a skill saw to the boards makes them easier with which to work. My twin brother and son have helped me, and I am optimistic that I can finish the floor this week. I’m not as confident about the steps. I have to cut new risers and treads. We’ll see how it goes. Maybe I’ll have a nice deck to sit on and watch the leaves fall in autumn. 

My brother Jim has said that I need to realize my age and that I can no longer undertake such projects, especially since I don’t necessarily know what to do. I agree and have decided this is my last big attempt at them. He also says I might finish the deck but die in the process. If that happens, I hope others will take time to enjoy the fruits of my labors. Those projects won’t be perfect, but the imperfections offer character.  

VENTURING OUT CLOSE TO HOME

  

Some family members describe Amy and me as miserly. We are thrifty, but on occasion, we splurge just a bit to enjoy a new experience. What we’ve discovered are plenty of places to go and things to do around Knoxville or within a few miles of home. We are enjoying retirement by doing more things and spending time together.  

Amy and I had a pleasant trip the other Saturday. We boarded the Volunteer Princess for a short cruise down the river. Dinner was served, but drinks were extra, the one negative of the entire trip. We stepped outside on deck to take in the scenery. Alcoa Highway was on one side, but Sequia Hills was on the other. We watched walkers, bike riders, and dog walkers there. In other places, folks had creatively set places to fish. One family had dad sitting on the rocky shoreline, while mom and two little ones sat in chairs and waited for him to bring in the big one. Personally, I’m not eating anything that comes out of the water there, but others might feel safe consuming their catches.  

As much as possible, we like to take our dog Sadie with us on short jaunts. Trips take a bit longer because on trails, the dog stops every few feet to sniff. Good trails are always available at Northshore, Sequa Hills, and Stony Point in Hardin Valley.  

Most native Knoxvillians of my generation remember “going to town” to shop. When the malls began to open, downtown seemed to have died. However, we humans changed our minds and longed for trips back to the city. The Saturday Farmers’ Market isn’t the gigantic event that it once was, but walking through the maze of booths and looking at the wares and foods available is nostalgic for some of us. Folks buy plenty and enjoy talking with farmers and craftsmen. It’s not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning.  

Knoxville residents are lucky to be so close to the Great Smoky Mountains. But just a short drive west takes adventurers to the likes of Cumberland Mountain State Park or Rock Island, or Burgess Falls. Most of these places. Amy and I like waterfalls and enjoy short walks from the car to see them. I’m a chowhound, and my favorite thing at Cumberland Mountain is the buffet that is served for breakfast and lunch. A walk or a nap is necessary after such a meal. 

When it’s all said and done, home is the place I like best. We are blessed to have a huge front porch with an equally large screened porch on the side of the house. Cool weather is always a wonderful time to sit there, watch television, listen to music, or read. Off the family room we have a deck. I’ve worked to replace boards and rails, but my hope is to cover the deck with a composite material that is maintenance free. We also have a pool, and just sitting by it is as pleasant as any vacation spot.  

We are at that time in our lives when venturing out is exciting. I am learning to leave home more often, but that place we built in 1978 is still where I want to be at the end of the day. Traveling around the area is fun, but no bed sleeps as well as my own.