Happy School Year!

The pencils are still sharp and the glue sticks still have their caps.  The crayons are whole, the tape around the desks' name tags isn't curling and the backpacks contain no overdue permission slips.

Welcome to the first day of school.

Students from kindergarten through 12th grade returned to class today in my little corner of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.  I'm a substitute teacher at the elementary level (My motto:  "Sometimes a freelancer, sometimes a mercenary") so "back to school" makes me think of washable markers and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
" lunch boxes, not lockers and student parking.  But whatever their grade, each student today opened up the gift of a bright and shiny new year...and tonight some are thinking of returning it.

But they'll be back tomorrow (we hope) and so will their teachers, whether today was marked by exhilaration or exhaustion.  I'm blessed to count a number of teachers, assistants, administrators and support staff among my friends---they're clever, resourceful, funny and dedicated.  They give their best to their students day in, day out.  Here's to you, my friends:  May your year be marked by serendipity and grace.

I'm also pleased to know quite a few students, from a brand-new kindergartener to a college junior.  My words to the young ones:  Don't worry about who is first in line; everybody gets to the cafeteria about the same time anyway.  Close the bathroom door all the way.  And never, ever say "I can't," before you've even tried something.

To the older ones:  Do your homework.  Keep showing up.  And remember that most bad stuff is temporary, like thunder---it rolls through and fades away.

Here's to a great 2014-15!