First days of school

Last night we went over to the Rays house for a Labor Day grill out. Tara joined us. Not only is it the last official "hurrah" of summer in the north, but it was also, unbeknowest to me (and yes, I know that isn't a real world -- I used it for "effect"), a retired teacher, the day before the first day of school.
I used to know for sure when the first day of school was. I counted it down with sheer terror plastered across my face.

But I am now, nearly three years retired, and I no longer know when it is kids go back to school. I don't know that is, until I walk into the house of Ronaldo Ray and company.

I have not been in a house with children preparing for their first day of school before. Of course, I once was a child preparing for my first day of school, but I don't think it is quite the same as having the opportunity to observe this day as a grown-up -- especially a grown-up that has nothing invested in any of the conversations taking place.

I must also add that we were able to observe three children starting school -- two of which were starting fairly monumental days of school.

Hunter (pictured on the far left in this picture) is preparing to start middle school today. The big first day of middle school. Veronica (pictured on the right) reminded us fifty-seven times that she will be a high schooler as of today. Okay, yes Veronica, we got that.

Cole, pictured above, is getting ready to start second grade. This grade was not so monumental, however, it was still very big to Cole.

The conversations that ensued in the Ray household last night in preparation for the first day of school centered around just one topic. Yes, you guessed it. School.

The first important topic of interest? What in the world should Veronica wear? Veronica decided to let us help. Now half of the answer had already been decided for her. She would wear blue jeans of course. However, that's where the ease ended. What shirt would she wear? Well, which tight, short sleeved shirt should we wear? She brought out about ten shirts. They all looked very similar to me, but each had a slightly different theme. We finally all voted on the one that looked the most "unlike the others". It was black and white striped with a colar that Ebby informed us would be worn flipped up because "that is the new style". Okay. Got that.

Veronica seemed pleased with our decision and meandered down the hall to pick out some shoes.

Cole's dilemma was more difficult. Where did he put those new plaid shorts he was supposed to wear? When he finally found them, he reminded us that they were plaid and that they were cool. He also reminded us that he actually had two pairs of plaid shorts.

Ron and Ebby also informed us that Cole never gets in trouble in school because "he is too busy flirting with the girls." I think this is often the appropriate time to say that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree as rumor has it Ron was a ladies man in his own day. But that may be a little too much information for my blog so I will refrain.

Hunter was concerned about his hair would look after his shower and a night sleep on a wet head. Ebby saved the day by promising to provide mousse that would help any bed head that may have developed. Hunter meandered back down the hall with a look of semi-trust on his face. Hunter is a bit of worrier, and so he never looks completely certain that he trusts you. I'm sure he checked to make sure there was moose in the bathroom before completely believing he wouldn't have bedhead the next day.

Veronica reminded us again at this point that she was going to be a high schooler today. Okay, right, got that.

Back to Hunter. He is majorly freaking out that he would oversleep for the first day of school. "Mom," he asked, "Do you have an alarm clock?"

At this Ronnie shakes his head and reminds us that on his first day of school he was praying that his mother would forget to wake him up. Maybe the apple falls farther than we thought.

Ebby pipes in and promises that she would remember to send them to school and would definitely get them up on time. Hunter didn't seem too confident (remember that he's a worrier) until I reminded him this was a very happy day in the life of his mother as well -- summer was over! She wanted them to head out the door tomorrow as much as they wanted to head out the door tomorrow. Mom would not forget to wake them up. This seemed to offer the eldest Ray son some comfort, and he meandered down the hall to pick out shoes and doublecheck again for that mousse.
Cole actually got up out of bed to come back into the dining room to remind his mom about a homework assignment that had been assigned before school started. Homework before school? What is this world coming to? In all actuality, this was more a homework assignment for the parents then it was for the kid. Each student had to create a page for a scrapbook telling the class about themself. What second grader can do that? I had visions of Ebby staying up late in the night cutting out photos and placing them around the page. She should she be stressd about this. Not Cole.

Ebby comforted Cole with a reminder that he actually had until Friday to get this assignment done, but this only semi-relieved the youngest Ray male. He wanted to go out to the car and get the instruction sheet and make sure his mom's memory was accurate. Seeming to know that he wouldn't sleep soundly without seeing the instruction sheet for himself, Ebby let him go retrieve it from the car. Sure enough, Mom was right.

Then there was the question of getting to school. Veronica was supposed to ride the bus, but would her dad agree to drive her on the first day? Ronnie seemed less than thrilled, and Veronica finally agreed to board the bus at 6:37 for the thirty minute jaunt to Century High School.

Oh and speaking of Veronica, she is going to homecoming! The homecoming dance is actually three weeks after school starts and little Veronica "the high schooler" already has a date!

"Ronnie, you are going to let her go?" I asked.

Ronnie nods. There had to be a catch. Ron Ray would not casually allow her daughter to walk out the door with her hot little bod and some boy next to her. Would he?

"She can go if I chaperone," he mumbled. Aaaaah, there's the ticket.

I glanced at Veronica thinking she'd be sitting in the corner mortified by this thought. But this didn't seem to phase her a bit. She's getting to go to homecoming. As a freshmen. With a boy. The chaperone issue seemed painless, and the least painful of all options.

Back to rides to school. Hunter informed me that he lives too far for the bus but also too far to bike. This is complicated! So instead, he will join a carpool with a family down the street. Cole on the other hand is far enough away for the bus. He will board each morning at 7:30 . If it is Ebby's turn to carpool and Ronnie has to work, he may have to ride with his mom to drop Hunter off. He didn't seem excited about this thought.

Okay, so did you get all that? Now add to that fees for school and new clothes and lunches (are we buying or making?) and class schedules, and I was officially worn out. And these weren't even my kids. This school stuff is complicated.

Good luck today to all the kids beginning their first day of school. I'm glad I'm not joining you. Man, I think I need to do a whole blog on how glad I am to no longer be a teacher. But that's another day.

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I also thought I would include some pictures from Sunday evening when a few of us got together and made homemade paninis and played some Mexican Dominoes. Rachel, I'm sorry, you didn't make the photo cut. (Blame Nicole.)