For the past 2 and 1/2 school years, every time I've driven my kids to school we take the same route. It's just easier that way. And wrangling three (sometimes four when we carpool) kids out the door and getting them to school is a feat in and of itself so there's no need to complicate things, right?Anyway, we take the same route and drive roughly 6 blocks to get to the school. And about two blocks from the building is a crossing guard. I don't have a clue what his name is, I only know him by sight. 

And what a sight he is.

He is always happy. Always. Even when he's standing there in his bright yellow poncho, getting drenched or knee-deep in snow, he's smiling. He waves at every single car and pedestrian and is always pleasant. I can't recall a single day that he wasn't there.

At New Year's he wears a Happy New Year hat (or crown on top of his ball cap) and on St. Patrick's Day he has a green hat and a shamrock necklace. For Christmas... you guessed it. He wears a Santa hat.

But that isn't the best part. The best part is his Friday Happy Dance. And it happens every Friday.

We drive up and we see him off to the right and the kids immediately get excited (even the 2 year old who doesn't really have a clue what's going on). As soon as we're close, he begins the Friday Happy Dance. He pumps his arms and throws his head back and says "It's Friday!" He doesn't scream it, he just kind of cheers. But the kids love it and he does it for everyone who passes either on foot or in a car. 

As we're driving down the street, they start saying "Mom, it's Friday! We'll see the Friday dance!" 

And I just smile because it's such a sweet little thing that gets me every week. And it gets me good. 

Image Credit: http://www.riversideca.gov/publicworks/crossing-guards.asp