Community and staff,
It is hard to fathom how close we are to the holidays. Just yesterday, or so it seems, we began the school year. Time flies when you are having fun, and that is exactly what we are doing in PISD, having a good time celebrating all the good things happening.

There’s a line in the Lynrd Skynrd song Tuesday’s Gone that says, “And I don’t know where I’m going, I just want to be left alone.”
Many times have I had those same sentiments. Don’t bother me, just leave me alone.

The Texas Historical Commission’s Texas Heritage Trails Program, a tourism initiative that helps Texas communities promote tourism and foster community leadership through historic preservation, is encouraging travelers to see East Texas’s fall foliage.

Here is a great opportunity to stock up on books to carry you through until the library reopens. The Fall Friends Book Sale at the Civic Center starts tomorrow, Thursday at 4 p.m. for Library Friends members (you can join on the spot for as little as $10). Friday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. is another special pre-sale event before opening to the public at 10 a.m. Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and all day Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. the book sale is open to all.

Wednesday, November 11th is Veteran’s Day, a day set aside to honor all those who have served in our military forces. Well, what makes them special that they should be honored? Their service? Their sacrifices? The veterans themselves? Just what is, or what makes, a veteran? Perhaps if you knew the stories of a few of them you might understand better. These stories are true, and either I was there when they happened or they were confirmed by witnesses. They all speak to the character of our veterans, the people that we honor November 11th.

Last week, a tragedy occurred. I was on my laptop (a five-year-old Toshiba), working on a monstrous, and ridiculous, project involving Twitter for my Theories of Mass Communication class, when the screen of my computer froze. I couldn't move the mouse, couldn't do anything. I freaked out.

What a great week in PISD! There is no doubt that this week was as exciting as the week this community voted “yes” and passed the construction bond in May — the first time that had happened for 21 years. Over the past five to six months, the district has been working hand-in-hand with our architect and builder in designing our new buildings. On Thursday, the board of trustees and guests were elated to witness all their hard work arranged into a slide show and played to music.

Receiving freight these days reminds me of the box of chocolates quote from Forrest Gump: “You never know what you’re going to get.”

When the saints go marching in, they should be recognized. During my working years, I thought about running a feature column called The View From the Pew, but I never quite got around to it. Now I'd like to make amends in Senior Moments by pointing out those who do so much for congregations and community. These are not the people who always serve on the boards and commissions, but the quiet unassuming folks who do their share — and then some. I hope you will send me short items (a paragraph or two) about them and I'll include them in this column..