“Back to school” is in the air, and by in the air I mean on the air, in commercials for Target and Old Navy, because nothing about 80-degree air says “back to school.” It’s against nature that kids have to go back to school while corn and tomatoes are still in season.
But the ads and the smart little outfits in the windows, which often incorporate corduroy, whimsical short-over-long layers, and a beret, always give me that feeling.
I get the same feeling from the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” – which I JUST NOW discovered is not (Are Made of These), which rhymes way better – because it’s the song that woke me up on my alarm clock radio my first day of 9th Grade. 9th Grade was in a new school, so extra newness points.
What is that feeling?
A “start fresh” feeling.
Clean slate. An urge to go out and buy a brand new 3-ring binder with fresh pocket dividers — the promise of a new, organized me which I will violate within two weeks by stuffing the Algebra worksheets into the Social Studies section, by falling behind on my homework, and so on. But buying the notebook is a beautiful exercise in pretending that won’t happen.
So is buying the sheets of neon oak tag that I have no use for yet, but could come in handy for some well-organized project. (Did everyone call poster board oak tag? Did we think about what a weird name that is?)
A “this year I can be cool” feeling.
Wait till the kids see my new waterproof felt green hat from camp, which will be my every-day, trademark look.
Wait till the kids see my new calligraphy skills. They’ll gather round and beg, “write my name, write my name!” which I’ll do with a beautiful, unique flourish for each, possibly at someone’s birthday party.
Wait till they see how fast I got at solving Rubik’s Cube.
Wait till they see how slim I look in these tan cords from the Burlington Mall.
(Designer jeans didn’t fit me. Wrong body type. And yes, I weep for my middle-school self and her notions of what makes you popular.)
It’s just what the retailers want — a “buy something” feeling.
Who am I to fight the system? I might go shopping. OK, I already bought a new t-shirt yesterday.
Now you.
Do you get the “back to school” feeling? What does it mean to you? If you have kids, do you catch it from shopping with them?
TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS.
Or, leave a question for future posts. I love questions.
Laura, you just brought back fond memories of how much I loved.. loved.. LOVED buying brand new back to school “stuff”! Especially my treasured TRAPPER-KEEPERS!! Remember those? That new vinyl smell… that crisp snap of the virgin velcro… the random assortment of stickers to decorate it and “make it my own” – (Def Leppard, Duran Duran, Johnny Depp.. ) *sigh* good memories. 🙂 These kids nowadays have their SMARTphones and newfangled iPads… do they even SELL Trapper-Keepers anymore??!!
I’m surrounded by ‘back-to-school’ energy when I walk into my classroom.
Yup, 7-3 work time begins. Whirlwind of energy surrounds me and I make sure that I’m seriously protected energetically.
If I don’t, I’ll be face down on the couch by 4 p.m.
Let the new school year begin. Yay! Waving a white flag.
I already sensed that there’s a pissed parent at me…I silently roll my eyes and pretend not to want to trip her while she walks pass me. (say to self: must be nice. MUST BE NICE). Smiling with all of my teeth showing.
I sense an uncomfortable conversation coming on. Damn…
Oh well. Think H A P P Y thoughts.
I get the back to school feeling because we here at this household are a family that needs structure.
Without it we are insane.
So while I skip the oak tag purchases – the thought of structured days wherein my children are no longer at Camp Licia brings me laughter and joy and new beginnings.
I’m not ready for back-to-school, but I did come up with questions for your blog post arsenal.
1) What meal are you super proud of cooking within the last two weeks? (I’ll let you define “cooking.”) Please describe the process.
2) What meal are you most ashamed of eating in the last two weeks? Please do not describe the process (okay, you can).
3) How do you feel about chia seeds? (All forms)
Sorry, were they supposed to be about copy?
What did I mean by “white ducks”? To be honest, I don’t really know. It’s what my parents used to call them, i.e., white cotton trousers.
See comment above
Ha. Thanks, Dad. I see it.
Well done & commented. Arouses an old sense of excitement at this time – about who did what during the summer, a chance to wear again my “white ducks” from Shabbat services, and to see my new students in action with each other and with me.
Dad, did you copy Paul’s pants? Or are “ducks” something different?
You’re on to something good here (hey my dad’s a psychologist too.) There was so much potential at the beginning of year — and so much of it boiled down to “I really think they’re going to like me this year…because of my white Shabbat pants from camp.”
I associate my 8th-9th upgrade(!) with “I wear my sunglasses at night”. But on a separate note: I thought Pharrell Williams was singing: Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof.
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the troof. Turns out, there is no word “troof” (yet!)
White Shabbat pants from camp! White Shabbat pants from camp! I love this so much. Our strategies were incredibly similar and equally ill-conceived.
And that is trooffully what I hear in the song, too.