Back to School

I love back-to-school time. I guess because I always loved school. And all the preparatory rituals associated with it.

A very exciting part to me was picking out new school supplies. I got to pick out a new Trapper Keeper for the year (should I get the Hollie Hobby or the owl and mushrooms motif?) and got to pick my favorite color spiral notebooks. Some things I could not pick: I had to have Bic pens rather than cool click pens, but I could get real Crayola crayons. Come to think of it, that was probably the only brand available back then. I remember when I started Kindergarten, the school supply list said "Large size pencils, no erasers." That was back when they thought a little hand could better manage a fat, unwieldy pencil than a normal slim one. But all the pencils had erasers. So at my mom's insistence, my dad bundled them all together, and cut off the erasers with a hacksaw. Then I get to school, proud of my pencils that met the requirements, only to find out everyone else left their erasers on! And that it was okay! And I was stuck w/ mutilated stubby pencils with which I could not erase! Oh, the shame! But I recovered.

Back then, you could pick your own colors for spiral notebooks. They were clean, the wires not bent, and they'd never been opened. It was like they were laying there, waiting to be written in, waiting for new knowledge to fill them. Nowadays, the schools tell you to get 1 red, 1 blue, 1 green, and 1 purple. I guess one for each subject. While the thrill is not gone, it is lessened.

My mom used to stock up on school supplies after school started, when all those notebooks, glue, folders, and pencils were on sale to make room for Halloween items. We had a closet in the house where we could go get stuff when we needed it. I used to love to go in there about January and get some fresh school supplies. Still just as exciting as in August.

A new state law here requires public school to not start before the 4th Monday in August. This year, that means school starts August 27! I heard rumors it was because of the vast theme and water park industry in the state not being able to count on lifeguards,staff, and customers with schools all starting various days. I've not been able to confirm that the almighty dollar is the reason, but it wouldn't surprise me. Part of starting this late means we lose our traditional Fall Break, a week off in October when things cool off and it's a perfect time for a road trip. They are also shortening the Christmas and Easter break, since we are starting a full 3 weeks later than usual.

My last favorite ritual was shoe shopping. I loved getting new shoes for school, or for anything, really! Those new shoes on my feet meant I could run faster, climb higher, and walk further than I could before I got them. My kids have their new school shoes now, too, just waiting on August 27. Some things never change.