The first day of school

 Today was the first day of school for many kids in Guilford County and it has brought back so many memories for me.  I have loved seeing all of the pictures from my friends of their kids in their first day outfits, often with signs that say "First day of..." Those are memories that these kids will carry with them for the rest of their lives (one of the good things about social media). 

I started first grade in 1981.  This was back before schools (at least in the school system I was a part of) did open houses before school started.  I remember Mom taking me to Walter Bickett Elementary that day.  The kindergarten and first grade classes shared a building.  So we had to go into the hallway and look for our names outside of each classroom to see where we belonged.  I was in Sue Richmond's class.  What I wouldn't give to talk to her again.  She was one of my favorite teachers.  Outside of her classroom, she put a tree on the wall with apples, and each apple had the name of one of her students on it. That is how I found out which class I was in.  

I remember the first day of 4th grade.  I had Mrs. Thaxton that year.  It was important because that would be the first grade that we would change classes in, for reading and math.  Then 5th grade was interesting because all three elementary schools combined that year.  Walter Bickett had all of the city's 4th and 5th grade students and the K through 3rd were divided between the other two.  So, there were so many new people to meet that year.  And starting new schools was a frightening adventure as well.  The first days of Monroe Middle and Monroe High Schools were both very intimidating for me.  But I survived each time. I would not necessarily want to go through those times again, but I do enjoy the nostalgic memories of them.

Of course, I cannot forget shopping for stuff before the first day of class.  Buying new clothes for school was exciting.  Mom would take us to T.J. Maxx in Charlotte to shop for clothes.  I always thought it was a big deal to go out of town to shop and in many ways, it was.  Bless Mom for making us try on each and everything to make sure if fit and that there was room to grow.  It would take several hours but she was patient, and I always found it fun.  Buying the school supplies....pencils, crayons, paper, the memorable Trapper Keeper, fun folders to keep things in, the backpack.  There was just something about the newness of it all each year that gave me something to look forward to.

While I did have some hard emotional times throughout my school years, I chose to remember the things that make me happy.  And it all really started with that first day of school in 1981.