13 Pictures

As I was making chili yesterday, I thought about those picture frames you can get that hold all of a child’s school photographs from kindergarten through grade 12. I remembered thinking when Amy was really little, that 13 years was a long time, and a lot of pictures.

Last June Amy finished middle school-and had I bought one of those picture frames, 9 slots would now be filled. Along with those 9 years come a lot of memories. Amy’s very first day of school, when her brand new teacher forgot to count the children after recess and Amy was left outside for quite a while. She didn't mind-she had fun playing long after everyone else had gone in. She was “found” by a helpful 5th grader who took her back to her classroom and a very embarrassed teacher!

I remember a list of spelling words that came home one year…sailor, anchor, knot, ship, bosom…Bosom?! That made me do a double take! I had visions of lusty barmaids entertaining men who’d been at sea too long. Then I realized Amy’s teacher meant boson!

There was the dear teacher who announced to the class, “Had Lincoln not been assassinated, he would still be alive today!” (2002)

One year at the student talent show and bar-b-que, attended by families, friends and respectable members of the community, the local country music radio station provided the d.j. services. They played music before the show started-while people were getting their lunches and the kids were getting ready to perform. Above the chatter of the crowd I could hear the strains of “Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo.” I could just hear the lunch servers ask, “Would you like milk or tequila with your burger?”

And I smiled remembering the junior high school age kids. They had once fought over who got to sit on my lap when I would help out in Amy's classrooms--now awkwardly holding hands with boyfriends and girlfriends.

Yes, lots of memories…

Yesterday, Amy started high school. Hard to believe that she is only 4 slots away from going off to college! As I made the chili, I must admit I had tears in my eyes. But then again, those were some pretty strong onions I was chopping.