Tuesday, August 19, 2008

BACK TO SCHOOL

Maggie's first day of school at Meridian was today. Up until last week, she was ready for summer to continue, but as it got closer, she became more excited for school to begin. I think having all her brand new school supplies helped - - I am not sure why, but for some reason, kids just love new school supplies.

In the Meridian School District, the kids have attendance centers. We live in Blue Mound, but the K - 2 is in Macon. One of the things that most excited Maggie was the fact that she gets to ride a bus to school now. Since kindergarten, she has dreamed of riding a bus. When she first started attending LSA, she was quite disappointed to find out that she did not get to ride a big yellow bus to school. This morning, she got to realize that dream.

As a child who spent literally hundreds of hours on a big yellow bus back and forth to school as a child, I have to say that I find her enthusiasm for the bus somewhat comical. I am sure the allure of it will fade all too soon. At any rate though, part of the thrill of her first day at Meridian was riding on the big school bus. I asked her last night if she wanted me to drive her to school in Macon, or if she preferred to take the bus. There was no hesitation at all as she told me she wanted to head over on the bus this morning.

This morning, I walked with her from our house to the intermediate school where they board the bus and head for the primary school. She actually knew several of the kids that were waiting with her for the bus, and I was all but ignored as she chatted and giggled with the other kids. When it was announced that the bus had arrived, she didn't give me so much as a look backwards as she bounded through the hall and out onto the sidewalk to the street where her chariot awaited. She and another little girl quickly grabbed a seat on the bus, and then suddenly, she seemed to remember that I was still there. She gave me a few obligatory smiles and a wave while I snapped a few pictures, and then quickly turned her attention back to her seatmate. In just a few moments, the bus had departed, and I walked back home alone to head off to work.

And another year begins.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't think the love of new school supplies is limited to young children. When I was teaching I loved buying all the new supplies each year. SO EXCITING!

Anonymous said...

I remember Maggie's dream of the big 'cool' bus ever since she began to talk, I also remember the sights, the sounds, and, Oh yes, the smells of the bus I rode as a child. Here's hopin' she has better luck than we did. By the way, feelin' any older ;)

Anonymous said...

Congrats and good luck Maggie for new school year..!

Anonymous said...

One of my many school bus memories, is begging Kimberly to let me sit between her and Gaye so Ronney Burnet wouldn't sit with me. He terrified me when I was little. Him and Donny King...*shudder*

Anonymous said...

Kristin - Did Gaye and I let you sit there? I don't remember that but I do remember Donnie King making me cry one day when I was 5 or 6! Maggie looks very happy to be on that bus, but I have to agree that I don't remember having the same love for it!

Anonymous said...

Oh come now. I wasn't nearly as scary as Jimmy Sunderland! I was better looking too!

Anonymous said...

Kim, I think you let me a few times. I don't think you liked it though. OH, Jimmy Sunderland... I couldn't remember his name or he would have been in my last comment. He creeped me out as well.