Every morning and every afternoon for twenty years, I have been greeting children and parents with warmth and joy as a crossing guard in the community. They know me by my catchphrase "Peace, I gotcha!" The kids love to say it to me first to beat me to the punch and I respond back. They know I am always there to help them and support them, rain or shine.

On my 80th birthday, the neighborhood surprised me with an honorary street sign labelling the corner I have manned for 20 years, "Alec's Corner." As I always say, it's a blessing to be a blessing. And this corner, and this community, have been a blessing to me.