I've been drowning my sorrows with a bottle of Mt. Dew and Reese's Cups.

I guess I really have to accept the fact that summer's over and school has begun. Because I bought all the supplies, 117 binders, 423 pencils, 15 packs of loose leaf paper, 78 folders, too many crayons and markers to count, etc.etc.etc.etc. And I spent a lot of money on some new shoes...sadly, not for myself. And we arose very early this morning so that they could dress in some fine attire.

And they carried their teachers an apple, just like Laura Ingalls did at the beginning of every school year on Little House on The Prairie. Except ours were covered in caramel and dipped in chocolate and then decorated with whatever sprinkles and toppings the kids so desired to offer and finally bagged in their color of choice with complimentary ribbon. But other than that, just like Laura Ingalls. :)

I'm thinking her mom had a better idea when she suggested she just pick a red delicious right off the tree in the apple orchard.

Anyway, it's been our tradition for...well almost forever, I suppose. I mean isn't that what you are supposed to do on the first day of school---take an apple to your teacher? I don't like breaking traditions. I don't really care how old you are, or how cool you think you may possibly be at this very moment, or any other lame excuses you can obtain. Apples are given to teachers, regardless. I may have to let Tyner Beth (the socialite) deliver them all. I may have to deliver some. And we may have to rope in a guidance counselor every now and then to do the job for us (thanks Danyell)....but the apples, they will be delivered.

Now. Look closely at that lovely first morning photo again. Can you find the high school-er in the crowd? Here's a clue: He is NOT the one with two pink bow pigtails. Here's another clue:

He's the one with an ink pen poking out of his pocket.

Because that my friends is how you roll when you cross over to the porch where the big dogs are. Seriously? Who knew the pen in the pocket was such a fashion statement for the youth of today? I'm totally buying into it. It may only be a fad, but it's a cheap fad. Stock up on blue and black....10 pens for a $1.00. Just think of all the outfits that can be accessorized for under a dollar.

If only that had been an option during my decade of glory days. I could have saved my mom a ton of money but instead I wasted it all on Coca-Cola shirts and a pair of blue jeans with a little triangle on the fanny. And about a million cans of Rave hair spray. Because the hair was big back in the day. In fact I could have used it to store a few dozen pens if necessary. Or probably even an apple.

So, clearly you can see that I'm avoiding talking about important things like this child that went for his first day....of high school....today. There's plenty in my heart I could tell you, but for now, this will have to do:

Just know that he did great.
I survived.
That's all we could have hoped for.