We learned more from a 3-minute record

I’m late with this, but school is back in session. My kids, for the most part, seem to like school and it only helps that their mom (who works at their school) is close by during the day.

As for me, school was mostly OK. Rode the bus for the first 4 years, and then was able to walk to school right up until graduation. Well, at least until I got my spiffy ’62 Tempest in 11th grade. Then, I drove the entire 4 ½ blocks, all the while wavin' to the girls and feelin' out of sight.

One of the highlights of my school years was 5th grade, when Mr. Zachary played quarterback for our games during recess. To us, that was earth shattering for a teacher, and it only got better when he brought in an autographed and personalized photos for us from Baltimore Colts kicker Lou Michaels (the pride of Swoyersville, Pa, and who happened to be Mr. Zachary’s neighbor).

One thing of many that has changed is that my kids pack up every morning and take more things to school during a week’s time that I did for an entire year. One thing they are never without is a water bottle. In fact, it seems we never go ANYWHERE without a water bottle. Even if the trip is two minutes to Food Lion.

As a kid, we took trips to my grandparents nearly every other weekend. Never once on the 100-mile round trip did we have water. Or anything to drink. I can’t believe we didn’t die of dehydration.

And, of course, today we almost always have snacks in the car as well: Clif bars, waffles, other protein bars, fruit bars, Honey Nut Cheerios, Cheez-its, Goldfish. The list is long and often crumb-y and sticky.

Good thing there's plenty of water to wash it all down.