Back in Session

     You swirl your morning espresso slowly to the winding tune of the crickets just outside the open window in your kitchen as you peruse through the last paragraph of your morning read.  It's quiet, but not an erie quiet as one might recall in the movies where you are just awaiting the flash of some monstrous being to jump out from the shadows with a chainsaw.  This is a peaceful quiet.  The kind you hear about from friends you would like to hurt badly because they have just returned from their Caribbean vacation  where they never left the powdery white beach, the temp was always 85 and the air was just right for drinking.  The kind of quiet you see in commercials selling you the newest medication for your ailments.  It is the quiet before the storm, the one for which you have been dreading these past few weeks as you begin to hear thumps from the ceiling.  You realize they are beginning to come back to life.  They slowly tread down the stairs like zombies in a 1950's b-rated flick.  This marks the first day of school.   

     For some, the parents rejoice loudly break open the bubbly, and begin to celebrate, but this may not be the very posture you currently walk as this milestone for you comes way too early.  Why, it was only yesterday you we're seeing them off to their very first day of kindergarten.  You carefully smoothed the creamy peanut butter unto the wheat bread as if it were being made for the Prince of Vernai.  Then slowly ... Oh so gently, top the peanut butter with a few clean swipes of their favorite jelly before slicing the crust like a ninja and sealing the sandwich in a freezer bag tough enough to travel alongside a dump truck going through a nitroglycerin plant and still come out unscathed, for nothing ... Nothing would infect the food on which your son and daughter would be dining during school hours later on that day for lunch.  You probably checked, double checked, perhaps triple checked their school bag to ensure they had enough writing instruments, paper, folders, cinnamon bears, ruler, compass, road map in case the driver got lost, bread crumbs to leave behind for a solid return in case they had to hoof it uphill in the ... light fall breeze both ways.  Knowing your high level of newspaper reading intellect you may have even snuck into their bag a note or two of encouragement for their big day.  You recall how difficult it was realigning schedules when you were a kid, seeing new faces as you pass through the the all too familiar doors of learning, teaching, playing, building friendships, meaningless fights and arguments, as well as meaningful conversations and memories you never want to forget - the big game, the friendly maintenance people who always wore smiles and helped you find your first class, and then that one teacher ... Who always took a little extra time until what he was saying sunk in to what you were thinking.  And now, it's their turn.  You can still see their little faces all a glow as the bus rounded the corner.  Their excitement for what lies ahead nearly rivaled your worry and dread that your little one was growing up and you couldn't hold on hard enough.  While you fully intended to stand there making sure it would be ok and you'll be there to greet the when they get off the bus, they instead took the high road and while you sobbed uncontrollably they patted you on the sleeve and offered you their other pop tart if it would help ease your pain along with the very words you were to speak, "It will be ok.  I'll be back soon."  Those powerful words of bravery echoed as they jumped up and down awaiting their turn to climb the small steps into the yellow submarine on wheels and turning to offer you one last smile and a wave you wouldn't soon forget.

     You exhale a light sigh, and then with style and then some begin the morning routine as the hustle and bustle fires up with teeth brushing, hair combing, and chair battles of who is sitting where and who ate all the peanut butter crunch and why are we slapping the cat on the nose with the bacon again!  For the sake of nostalgia you might whip up a few sandwiches sliced like a ninja and tossed in the lunch bags along with apples, oranges, and bananas knowing fully well it will get quickly traded at the lunchtime casino for nutty bars or some other really nutritious Little Debbie organic treat, but hey, you did your best, right?

     You walk them to the bus stop, but by now they might be less apt to want you stand right there as they await their ride, after all, they have their friends think about now.  Perhaps you stand a little ways off, but still in clear view of the ones whom you have fed, protected, disciplined, wrestled, jumped on trampolines with, played laser tag, stayed up all night playing video games and eating Domino's and Doritoes, and nursed many wounds.  They are older now and may not look back for one more wave.  Their rep is at stake.  Their friends are watching and trying to talk to them, and then, your question is answered as they turn around with the smile for which you had so hoped, and wave good bye.

     The engine of the bus fizzles in the distance as you turn towards a silent house interrupted only by the tick-tock of the anniversary clock.  The aroma of this morning cup of espresso has since dissipated along with the much feared, but much loved hustle and bustle of the morning routine in rounding the kids for the school day and while even though mere minutes has passed, you miss it dearly.

     Fear not, my stylish, trendy-blog subscribing friend!  For these memories as you have fashioned them will not end with the day, but shall exist in their mind as it does in yours for years to come, and just as they have said it before, "It will be ok.  They shall return soon," ... but then again, that's just my humble opinion.