NO MATTER WHAT

I loved this old cop show with Travanti, Renko, Mike Warren, Belker, even Betty and Veronica. I know, I've mixed some real names with some character names. James Sikking, too.

But my favorite was the lieutenant, who read the daily agenda and APB's. There would be an occasional inside joke, a commendation, a smart remark from one or more of the officers, a poignant story.

But before they broke for the day's activities, he would always say, "And remember: be careful out there." I always liked that.

We had a similar meeting daily in the B Building Teachers' Lounge. Lots of smoke, plenty of coffee, and lots of laughs before the day began. Most would arrive at 7:45 and leave at the 8:20 bell. Some a little sooner; some much later especially if first hour or block was a conference. The regulars were Coach Red, Sam, Charlie Williams, Hack, Will Lee, Doc Feuquay, Joe O,Vance Beene, Dave Skorch, Stubblefield once in awhile, Chuck Stallings, Morey Tolley, Ron De Forrest and me. Rarely would females enter though Lucy Baker, Betty Wechsler, and Peggy Simmons braved it quite a bit.

We lost the lounge when the administration thought union activity/anti-administrative comments, and plans for teacher strikes were originating there. How wrong they were. It was just a place to blow off steam, have some laughs, and tell the same old stories day after day, year after year. No telling how many kids' lives were made easier by that lounge, but like Renko and the Hill St. boys, we knew we, too, had to be careful out there.