Back-2-School

I used to love this time of year.

My parents would take me downtown to buy a few fall fashions but most they would save for Christmas so it looked like a lot of presents. What is better on Christmas morning than ripping open a three-pack of tighty-whitties or some swell tie clips? Thanks Chris Cringle.

The best part was all the books and papers and pens and pencils and markers and pads and compasses and rulers and scissors and…. The school would send out a list of supplies required for each student to purchase for the next year as proclaimed by the retailers with their massive displays and newspaper coupons. All those black and white covered composition books for each subject until we grew into ring binders and removable notebook paper. Works great unless you are left handed.

Our books were handed out; expecting to be returned at the end of the year in perfect condition. Textbooks printed in the 20’s and well worn by previous classes they could not be highlighted (there was no such technology back in the day) but pages were earmarked and some evil person unlined phrase and paragraph. Brown paper grocery bags could be cut up and folded and decorated to show personal taste and artistic ability without crossing the rules.

The last day of school was sad because all your friends would go on vacations with their families or they would go to camp and you would see anyone for three months. Many summers were spent with ‘summer friends’ you didn’t see until it got hot.

When the school year started, usually the day after Labor Day, some familiar faces appeared again and a whole new sets of faces never seen before. Some who were accustomed to since you had gone to school with them ever since elementary grades changed over the summer. We were growing up and finding new attractions and interest and the ladies were developing.

Back to school brought back a daily regiment where parents didn’t have to babysit you everyday and turn over the duty to public servants to train, feed, implant values and protect.

Soon it will be time for a class reunion with a bunch of strangers I didn’t know then and don’t know now. What is the draw to attend? To check grandchildren (yes, we are that old) photos on cell screens? To dust off the memory of teen angst and try and remember why those six years of high school seem to go on forever? To check out the cute chicks you were too fearful to ask to the prom as a teen and see what they turned into after two marriages and four children?

It will be back-2-school without having to take another English exam.