Colby: August 2005 Archives

School days, school days,
Dear old golden rule days.
'Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic,
Taught to the tune of a hick'ry stick.
I was your queen in calico,
You were my bashful barefoot beau,
And I wrote on your slate,
'I love you, Joe,'
When we were a couple of kids. Colby's first day of college was Tuesday. She was nervous sick having not been in classroom since 6th grade. She isn't comfortable driving alone and Steven and I took her to school. She needed to check the bookstore for her psych book as it had not been in stock previously. This is what she told me later that evening when the house was quiet and we waited for Steven come home from work - "Dad waited while I purchased my book. He carried my books and walked me to class." That is the first time in her life someone other then I walked her into school on the first day. Yes, I know she is 18 but she didn't mind. She let him walk her in because she knew it would make him feel better -if not herself. I can't even begin to tell you how excited Steven was to take her to school. He took the morning off to do so. The women in his office thought it was the sweetest thing they had ever heard. Wednesday was Gracie's first day of second grade. Again Steven took the morning off so he could be with her and walk her to class. He carried her bookbag and walked her down the long hallway. Her teacher is a very nice young woman. I think she will have a good experience in this class. Yesterday wasn't the most perfect day for Gracie. Just before lunch she was physically ill and I was called by the nurse to come pick her up. So we had a half of a first day. Her teacher gave all of the students a ziplock bag containing the following: 1 cotton ball 1 hershey's chocolate kiss 1 sticker 1 penny 1 star 1 tissue 1 band-aid 1 eraser 1 Life Saver A little note tucked in read: The cotton ball is to remind you that this room is full of kind words and warm feelings. The chocolate kiss is to comfort you when you are feeling sad. The sticker is to remind you that we will stick together and help each other. The penny is to remind you that you are valuable and special. The star is to remind you to shine and always try your best. The tissue is to remind you to dry someone's tears. The band-aid is to reminf you to heal hurt feelings in your friends and yourself. The eraser is to remind you that evryone makes mistakes and that it is okay. The Life Saver is to remind you that you can come to me if you need someone to talk to. I wonder how many children in that class will grasp the true meaning of those items and learn to trust and respect their teacher and classmates. Today is my first day at home all alone. Everyone is gone to school or working. What will I do to fill my time? I went to the bookstore yesterday and picked up something to fill my time (other than chores): The Secret Life of Bees, The Good Wife Strikes Back, and True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters. Cup of coffee anyone? Put your feet up and we can sit in the quiet still of this morning and lose ourselves in another world. What are you currently reading?