August 20, 2009
Do you still love to buy school supplies for yourself? I do and apparently can't help myself.
Remember the excitement of back-to-school rituals when we were younger, most important of which was buying school supplies.
Markers, colored pencils, rulers, Elmer's glue, highlighters, staplers, scissors, paper clips, hole punchers, gum erasers, a 64-box of Crayolas, a protractor and a compass?
I don't need any of these things at my age you understand, but I want them because it is almost fall and because buying school supplies used to be an exciting time, a magical autumn ritual.
Maybe I want that enchantment back, who knows? I do know, however, that I want wide-ruled notebook paper and some No. 2 pencils.
Certainly, I understand that some of you, perhaps for good reason, do not get as excited about the first day of school and school supplies as I do, especially my friend Rob. Here is what happened to him on the first day of school last year.
Early that morning, Rob's mother went in to wake him up saying, "Wake up Robby. It's time to go to school. It's the first day; you have your new school supplies. Aren't you excited?"
"But why," Robby whined, "I don't want to go."
His Mom replied softly, "Give me two reasons Robby why you don't want to go."
Robby answered, "Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!"
Mom said, "That's no reason not to go to school; come on and get ready. You have your new school supplies. Aren't you excited?"
Robby retorted, "Well, you give me two reasons why I should go to school then."
Mom, getting the last word in as she had for years said, "Well, for one, you are 52 years old, and for another, you are the head teacher!"
Ok, dear readers, there is your laugh for the day, but back to my point about wanting to buy school supplies at any age.
Recently, I had to explain sacks of school-supply purchases to the spousal unit who walked in at lunchtime and noticed them on the kitchen counter. He asked, somewhat perplexed, "Why are you buying school supplies at your age? Are they for the grandkids and don't they already have theirs?"
I really didn't have a good answer except to admit I succumbed, as I do every year, to a strong biological impulse to rush to a discount or office supply store as soon as the school-supply ads arrive in the mailbox.
This year, in addition to the basics I bought a hot pink Miley Cyrus notebook and bright folders with wolves and horses on the covers. We didn't have those in my day. And that is my final answer.
