Sharing Memories Week 10 First Day of School and Year

I am again joining Olive Tree Genealogy Blog for Journaling. I find this to be helpful in writing my stories for my grandchildren if you would like to visit Lorriane click her name for the link.

My First Day at School was scary for me because that year was a great time of change in my life.  My dad had to enroll me because my mother was living at the college she was attending 60 miles away.  She was not able to drive back and forth daily.  We only saw her weekends.

I was shy, and this was a huge step into the world.  We lived in the country and my only friends were my cousins who were older or younger than I was.  The room seemed large and spacious with wooden desks.  There were windows, that later I remember I would look out of and day dream. There was a playground with swings, slides, a tether ball pole, see saws, and there were steps on the side that we would play on. I don't remember classmates names.  I do remember my teacher was Mrs. Stafford.  She was a lovely older lady and I still have my picture of her which I would post if I were at home.  My dad knew her husband well and took me over to meet her before I started school.    She understood shy children, and quickly put me at ease. 

 

Since it was a small town, there was a bit of 'class' division.  In other wards, there were those who considered themselves, wealthy and those they considered less because they were poorer.  Because my father had lost his leg and was working washing dishes to put my mom through college, we fell into the poorer class.  Funny, I didn't really have a sense of class.  They were all just friends to me.  There was one incident in which there was some drama.  At the end of the year, I was chosen May Queen for my class ( we had a May pole party every year).  My dad was so excited, he went out to find a dress for me.  In the mean time the wealthy store owner was miffed that her daughter wasn't chosen and she had already purchased a dress for her.  She insisted I shouldn't be allowed to represent the class because my parents wouldn't be able to purchase an appropriate dress.  The principal gave in and my dad was upset, but I still didn't get to be the May Queen for my class.  Oh well, I knew I was his princess.

Two other things that happened that year.  One was, my cousin would pick me up on the way her way from high school since my dad worked.  She had and activity and I started playing with my friends, some egg and color game that I vaguely remember now.  Long story short, she didn't see me and went on home.  I sat on the steps and waited wondering why no one had come.  As it was getting dark, my friendly big giant uncle (he seemed that to me) drove up and came over gave me his big hand and smiled.  Apologized that his daughter had forgot and took me home.

                         

                                             My gentle giant Uncle Ed and little Fairy Aunt Dora

The second memorable event involved the girl that her mother later took my "Queenship away".  Once again it was after school and three of us girls were playing on the swings waiting to be picked up.  This girl had long auburn hair and a pretty white rabbit fur coat.  She was the envy of all the girls. 

We were taking turns playing on the teeter totter.  Suddenly, she slipped off the seat and fell hitting her head on the concrete at the base of the swings which was next to the teeter totter. The back of her head had a huge gash in it.  She, of course, was crying.  I stayed with her while the other girl ran for help.  I will always remember the red blood running down the white coat and her hair all matted in her face.  I don't remember her name though.  A teacher, not ours, came running out and took her inside.  I was scared, but she was back at school bandaged up the next day.

The year had more memories than I thought when I first started.  It wasn't a bad year, my biggest problem was math.  I got a B.  Math just was not my subject.  I did learn to love reading in this class.  Mrs Stafford was a great story time reader, and it was always nice to get close to her when we were in story time circle.

 Have you written about your first day of school and year?  What kind of memory did you bring to mind.