Do you know what I miss?

Yep, it's coming up... Yep, I miss it... Do you know what I miss? The first day of school. Boy, I remember when I was little. What a joy it was to go "up the avenue" in my neighborhood in Brooklyn, and go to Jam's Stationery Store (which was really a little hole in the wall store). Here is picture of it now but, when I was little, it was only HALF this size. The original store was the door on the RIGHT, if you look closely... where the people are walking in the picture...

My mom and dad would buy me new pencils, erasers, copy books, book covers, new crayons, and a new pencil case. Oh, and new colored pencils for the homework that involved drawing things! Oh, and a new schoolbag! In the 60's, everything was just so nice. There weren't HUNDREDS of things from which to choose, and we all had the same thing practically. No one was jealous of what the other had (well, sometimes), because we mostly had identical items. I loved putting all of my new pencils in my pencil case and getting everything ready in my schoolbag for the first day of school. Oh, I was so happy! I didn't have to worry about new clothes because we all wore a uniform. My mother was the one who had to worry about ironing the shirts and getting the socks, ugly shoes, uniform, etc. THEN, it hit me. Oh no! School meant getting up early and studying and tests and actually GOING to school!!!!!!!! With the NUNS! (I went to a Catholic school.) Then those supplies didn't look THAT good anymore...

Picture of my elementary school, S.S. Cyril & Methodius, in Brooklyn, NY:

Know what else I miss? I miss my son being little and getting HIM ready for the first day of school. Oh, the joy again of sharing the fun of him getting a new backpack with the Power Rangers on it,

or maybe Spiderman, whomever was his hero of the day. Oh the fun of buying new crayons, colored pencils, gluesticks, and new outfits for the first week of school. And that FIRST day of school?? Oh, what fun for me, being all excited, making him a favorite breakfast, picking out his "outfit" for the first day, helping him get dressed when he was little, and the best: taking his picture before he went off for his first day! And my poor little boy saying: "Mom! I don't want my shirt tucked in! Mom, I don't want another picture taken. Please stop!" :)

Picture of my son's elementary school in Connecticut:

So for everyone out there reading this, I hope that you enjoyed this post and that it brought back fond memories of your own first days of school when you were little; and for all of the young moms out there, getting ready for your kids' first day of school, I am jealous; but I am happy for you too. I hope you enjoy it and relish it!

Best regards,

Gloria