School has begun and our life will (after a brief lull in September) get very busy very soon. As a result, we are enjoying the last bits of summer by working hard, but not TOO hard.
Truth is, I really like the start of the school year. After all, I’ve been on the school schedule for 50 of my 62 years, so I get excited to wear my new Buster Brown shoes. Well, you know what I mean.
This time of year brings a mix of the old and new. Many of our old friends and habits are with us as we go through the motions of getting up earlier, waving to the crosswalk guard and shaking the principal’s hand. In my case, our elementary principal, Bruno Ponterio, gave us a “Ponterio Pinch” which was really sweet and scary at the same time.
I like the way it’s cold in the morning and warmer in the afternoon – though the afternoon temperature shift in my youth meant that I would constantly misplace my jean jacket as a kid. When we were playing, I forgot what time it was and typically left my jacket on the bleachers or on a playground bench.
“Where’s your new coat?” My mom would ask to which I’d reply, “Uhhh. Somewhere?”
I liked meeting a new teacher and wondering, “Will she like me?” I never really had to worry about doing the work at school. The social stuff was what I found most interesting, challenging, fearsome and fun. Around sixth grade, school got a little harder, but I still remember worrying more about being liked, being good at sports or not losing another jean jacket.
I also cared a lot about lunch. Opening my brown lunch bag and seeing what Mom packed was a highlight. It didn’t vary much. A tuna (or bologna) sandwich on white bread, a pear or an apple and three cookies. Never four, always three. My mother is consistent.
Recess always followed lunch and this was either heaven or hell. It was heavenly when all of my friends got along and we played sports. But it was hell if we were arguing about rules, fighting or disorganized. Seven year old boys, I recall, are not the best at logistics. Often, the fifty minute recess was spent disagreeing about what to play.
After school, this time of year meant bike riding everywhere. Homework was done after dinner, so I spent 3-6pm every autumn day biking up and down hills and getting snacks at a friend’s house or my own. We looked for frogs and pitched rocks at an empty barn some days, but mostly we just rode for miles, enjoying the speed and the freedom.
What I don’t remember are girls. In my early elementary years it was all boys all the time. That all changed by the time we left elementary school, but in those early years it was just me and the guys.
So, yeah, this time of year brings back some memories most of which are wonderful. I think I’ll take a bike ride tomorrow.
