Establish the Work of Our Hands
A Memoir: Stories from the Grey and the Green to the Blue and the Brown
by
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From: The Detectives We figured the students would drop the issue and eventually head for home. Wrong again—they started walking toward the school to check it out—who might be snooping around in their school? In peaking around the corner, we could see their noses pressed against the lobby windows. Maybe 20 students were out there discussing what they should do, and someone said, “We need to call the cops.” Now we are in deep weeds. A few minutes later, we see a couple cops cars driving into the parking lot, red lights flashing. And we know we must surrender. By now there are students guarding each of the exit doors. We turn the lights on, each of us going to separate doors to let students in… To this day, I can picture the incredulous looks on their faces . Of course, two cops were close behind, and soon they and the whole gang of students were inside the we accepted their admonishment, with the students enjoying ever moment. I will always be proud of that group of kids—they saw someone inside their school, and they quickly moved to protect it. What we were not so proud of is that in the next week’s Lynden Tribune, the names of Mr. Kredit and Mr. Polinder were listed in the police report. Of course, the community had a good laugh, at our expense.
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About the Book
This did not start out to be a memoir; rather a compilation of professional and opinion-writing to one day be read by our children and grandchildren. Early in the process it became clear that some chronology was needed to give background and context. Thus a memoir, plus. Still intended for the extended family, it is full of stories and perspectives from two different cultures and geographies, different decades and histories. This will also be of interest to a general audience who may not read the whole book but will enjoy reading “in” the book. Polinder writes with voice—to know him will be to hear him telling his stories. Honest, insightful, warm and funny—you will learn much about leadership, relationship and partnership, most often with a smile.
About the Author
Ron Polinder grew up on a dairy farm in Lynden, Washington fully intending to one day join the family tradition. That is, until he hit Freshman Chemisty at rigorous Calvin College, now University, where he discovered he had more aptitude for the Humanities, leading him into the world of Education. What followed was a 46 year career, split between teaching and administration in Western New Mexico, working with Native students and families, and becoming a High School principal in his hometown Christian high school. This memoir will tell of grand adventures, warm friendship, and deep suffering. Throughout, his Christian faith was central, and his prayer was that the Lord would “establish the work of their hands.” He was husband to Colleen, now deceased, sharing three children and ten grandchildren. He is now married to Judy, living in Lynden as retired volunteers.