Friday, June 26, 2009

School

Mom used to make a weekly trip to town with Jim and one of our buggies. Most of the time John and I would stay at Grandpa Masts while Aunt Emma went with Mom.
We always had a lot of fun playing there. Often if Mom was gone over lunchtime Grandpa would sit on his creaky rocking chair and ask us to come to him. He would have both hands closed and tell us we can have whatever is inside. We would tug and pull at his fingers until we finally had them open, and then get the treats he had hidden there for us. Most often it was a kids chewable papaya tablet, that we called monkey candy, other times there would be a few sunflower seeds. We didn't really mind what he held in his hands, the most fun was in opening them.

One day after Mom came back from town and we were talking to Grandma yet before we started for home, she told me that she bought something for me and I could go look in the back of the buggy in a certain bag.

I ran to the see what is there, and found a tin lunch box with Care Bear Cousins. To me it was the most beautiful one I had ever seen. I showed it to John and David and then had to run and find Vernie and Grandpa to make sure they see my new treasure too.

Mom told me I could use it to go to school. I was so excited and eagerly counted off the days until I could finally use it.

When the morning dawned for the first day of school I watched excitedly as Mom packed my lunch. I wore a new green dress that Grandma had made for me. Mom hitched Jim to the buggy and we headed for school. Once we got there they went inside with me and helped find the desk that had my name on it. There was a brand new pencil laying on top and several shiny new books. I loved books and could hardly wait to start coloring and writing and what ever else was involved with this exciting new event.

But then Mom said "Good-bye" and went out the door with John and David and headed home without me. My shiny new lunchbox and the books and pencil lost their charm as huge lumps started forming in my throat. I wanted desperately to cry and run home to Mom. Cousin Emma was also in first grade and was sitting right across the aisle from me. She wasn't having any qualms about going to school and told the teacher that "MaryAnn is going to cry." The teacher was very friendly and soon had me calmed down with some pretty pictures to color.

By the end of the first day Mom was waiting for me as soon as school let out. I decided school isn't too bad, there were a lot of interesting things to do and all my friends were there too. And at the end of the day I could go to the place I loved best. Home.

16 comments:

  1. Awww,cute story! I loved Care Bears and Care Bear Cousins as well! lol So what do you use the lunch box for now or it just a keepsake full of memories? Have a "BLESSED" weekend! Natalie,

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  2. I know another little girl that didn't like the beginning of school - my daughter! Only it went on for about a week or so. I'd drop her off (and the first few days my husband went also) and she'd start crying BEGGING us to take her home. The teacher was so sweet and I'd get an update every day saying she was fine, but those mornings were awful! She'd even try to run after us. LOTS of tears - for all of us (of course we waited until we left!).

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  3. What a great memory! Thanks for sharing with us.

    I never had a cool lunch box like that. My mom usually just used brown paper bags, but she would include little poems (that she wrote) in them. She has them all saved and wanted one day to put the in a book. Maybe she will.

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  4. That's such a cute thing your mom did with the poems, Michelle - I wish I would've done something like that. That's neat that you've saved them so she COULD put them in a book. I used to write things like "Have a nice day" on their bananas, but they never saved them. :( HA HA

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  5. A great memory so blessed when we can remember good things. I will be praying for your little one may God giving her total body healing.

    http://mymanyblessings.xanga.com/

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  6. Nice memory. I never had a lunch box, it was dreaded school dinners for me.

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  7. How wonderful that you still have the lunchbox! I don't have much of anything left from my childhood. I am really excited right now though because I just got a box of my grandmother's old sewing notions in the mail. I love looking through old things that are full of memories.

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  8. I had a lunch box too but not as cute as yours. It was a lard pail that was blue and white with a blue lid. It had a bale handle so I could swing it as I walked to school.

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  9. I had a couple different lunch boxes, I think one of them was Scooby Doo. Most often it was a school made lunch for me. It was a treat to take a lunch. I hope no boo boos, my cat is trying to help me type. Sigh...

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  10. Beautiful memory and I think its cool that you still have the lunch box too!!!
    God Bless,
    Heather

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  11. Great memory. I would have loved my own lunch box. I ate school lunch. But always wanted to take my own lunch to school.

    It says something wonderful about your mom, not wanting to leave her. How cute.
    Sandra

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  12. OH what a sweet story! I had a favorite lunchbox growing up too. It was a Strawberry Shortcake. It's now sitting on the bookshelves in my living room with some other mementos. Oh the memories!

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  13. Thanks for sharing this first day of school memory :) This is my first time visiting, by the way. I'm so glad your little Sunbeam is ok, and is home and mending. Thanks be to God! I hope these next weeks go by quickly.

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  14. That's a sweet memory of opening Grandpa's fingers. I'm glad you had an understanding first grade teacher who helped you through that tough first day.

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  15. What a wonderful memory of your grandpa. Those cute care bears were favorites of mine growing up.

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  16. Thanks for commenting and introducing me to your lovely blog! Great to read you, I'll be visiting again soon! xx

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.