A Hole is a Hole

by Tom Peters

In high school I served only myself

In the US army I didn’t feel I was serving my nation

But learned to serve for the safety of comrades and innocent civilians

In the steel mill while serving as a cog in the corporate wheel

I served my family and the needs of a wife and three children

I extended service to my fellow union members as a shop steward

In the community college I served my students and faculty…again

This service benefitted my family and eventually my retirement

In retirement, a hole in my gratifying sense of service developed

Volunteering occasionally, giving out food to students during the pandemic

Helping out a friend or two in need and thankfully meeting the needs of my family

But a hole is a hole

My future plans are to increase the people I serve exponentially

I run, and get elected to a California community college’s Board of Trustees

Serving a large community of students, faculty, staff and administrators

And taxpayers who elect trustees

From serving one

To thousands