August 27 – “The Acting Room”

And so the new school year has begun.  Cailyn for one was very excited about it.  She went with her Mommy (and Daddy, too, I think) to “Meet the Teacher” night a few days ago.  She was excited to tell us about the school and her new teacher, Mrs. Applegate.  For some reason Chris decided to start calling the teacher Mrs. Snow White.  I guess she watched too much of that TV show Once Upon a Time.  Cailyn thinks it quite funny that Nani can’t remember a simple name like Applegate.  Personally I was leaning more toward a name like Pear Holeinthefence.  Lots of luck, Mrs. Applegate. 

Cailyn decided ahead of time that her favorite place at the new school was going to be what she called the Acting Room.  That’s one we didn’t have when I was in elementary school over at what is now Parker Elementary.  Back then we called it Island Elementary, and our principal was Miss Gladneo Parker.  That’s who the school is named after.  There’s another of those little things that swoop in and attack your brain and remind you that you’re getting old.  But back to the acting room.  We were certainly confused, I told her she would make a great actress.  Well, it doesn’t take much encouragement to get Cailyn moving.  She calmly agreed with me.  And then she offered to show us what sort of things went on in the Acting Room.  Now we really sat up in our seats.  “It has to be on the rug,” she insisted, pulling us ever closer to the edge of our seat.  And once properly located, she flew into a flurry of cartwheels.  Well, OK.  Cartwheels in the Acting Room.  Again I say, Lots of luck, Mrs. Applegate.

We remained puzzled until April arrived to pick her up.  We asked her about the Acting Room, and her face revealed almost the same level of confusion ours had shown.  We asked Cailyn to show her Mom what they did in the Acting Room, and the cartwheels began again.  And the light bulb went on in April’s face.  It wasn’t the Acting Room after all.  It was the Activity Room.  Of course.  We knew that. 

 

Sigh.  So long, Juliet.  Hello, Olga Korbut.  Wait, too long ago.  Maybe Nadia Comaneci.  Still too long?  How about Tara Lipinski?  Aargh.  This age thing is killing me.  Wait.  I remember now.  Gabby Douglas.  That’s the one.

Psalms 107:1-3 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.   Let the redeemed of the Lord say this — those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.”

Father, watch over all the little ones going back to school in one form or another this week, whether it be public, private, or at home.  Amen.