[Kzyxtalk] First Day of School

[sako4 at comcast.net]

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 

Good luck to little grandson, Oliver, today on his first day of school, August 18, 2016. 

I remember so clearly, 34 years ago, my oldest daughter, Zoe's, first day of school at the Franklin Elementary School in Wakefield, MA, which was located just down the street where my first wife, Patricia, and our kids lived at her father's house. Patricia had attended the Franklin School, as did her father. So that was three generations of our family who got educated at the Franklin School -- you don't see much of that intergenerational thing anymore in our highly transient, mobile society. It's like we don't have permanent homes. It's like we're homeless in a sense. 

The Franklin School was built in 1902 and closed in 2004. It's a Colonial Revival style brick school -- very beautiful. It should have historic landmark status, but I think the City of Wakefield dropped the ball, and I'm afraid the school will be demolished. All things pass, I guess. 

See: http://heritage.noblenet.org/items/show/14167 

I remember, too, my son, Ryan's, first day of school 20 years ago at Cheyenne Elementary School in Colorado Springs, CO. Shannon, his mom and my girlfriend at that time (now my wife), held one hand, and I held Ryan's other hand, as we walked from the car to the school. It was hard to let him go. 

Ryan's father , Paul, had died in a car crash less than two weeks earlier on August 13. On his fist day of school, Ryan was sad, fragile. He was quiet. And Ryan was a little afraid , I think, as he walked away from us into a classroom filled with kids he had never met and a teacher, which Shannon and I would later learn, was more than a little mean toward Ryan. Shannon cried as Ryan walked away into that classroom, looking back at us over his shoulder, and I held her. Her body shook with crying. 

My little babies were so precious, their faces so open and beautiful. Their faces so bright. Their eyes so full of light. 

Zoe and Ryan -- and Austin, Vanessa, Marithea, and Arianna (my babies, all) -- I remember all of you trundling off to kindergarten. You were gifts from God. You are gifts from God. 

Thank you, God. Thank you, God. 

Thank you, God, for my only real treasure here on Earth. 


THE FACE OF A CHILD 

In the face of a child, 
I see an ocean. 
I see an ocean of love. 
I see God's love for us. 

In the face of a child, 
I see all the mysteries 
of the universe. 
I see wonder of all that is. 

In the face of a child, 
I see all what was lost 
but is now found -- I see 
my own face as a child. 












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