Every morning, Husband and I take our dogs for a two + mile walk. For the last several months there has been a major construction project underway in our neighborhood that has caused us to have to modify our route. A stretch of road has gone from two way to one way traffic. Trenches have been dug. Sidewalks have been removed. This has causes us, on our way home, to have to walk along/in the street with our backs to oncoming traffic. Mind you, this is not a very busy street, but the construction traffic of water trucks, dump trucks, and other large and loud vehicles is a bit unsettling. There is a flagger person at each end of the road.

This morning on our walk along/in the street, I kept looking over my shoulder to ensure our survival, when I saw a large dump truck lumbering our way. I warned Husband and we reined in the dogs and tight-rope walked along the asphalt and into the dirt roadside. We walked on, anticipating the loud roar and rush of air as the overbearing vehicle passed us, but it never came. I kept looking over my shoulder. Then I noticed it. The truck had stopped way down the roadway and was idling, waiting.

At the four way intersection, which has recently become a three way intersection with the temporary road closure, there stood one of two flaggers. Each morning for months, he has happily greeted us, or rather our dogs. He crouches down, arms open, waiting for them to come to him. Sasha’s tail starts wagging the moment she sees him get to her level. Haley, more interested in what is in the back of his truck, is less welcoming, but usually gives him a lick or two.

He had seen me repeatably looking over my shoulder at the dump truck. As he ruffled Sasha’s fur and told her good morning, he looked up at us and said,”The trucks don’t go anywhere until I say they do. I’ve got your back.” And then he went back to hugging on our pups.

We thanked him and went on our way laughing at the grand and unexpected service offered to us by the flagger.

On an unrelated note, Cody and Carter completed their first day of school. Cody is a freshman and Carter is in seventh grade. Learning was done virtually with real time teaching. It went wonderfully! I was also back to work in my classroom nook/office, tucked in our bedroom. It was an in-service day with so much to cover my head is still spinning. I meet my kids on Monday for a brief meet and greet and we start our first week with four half days of instruction and professional development. It is going to be quite the year.