“Chocolate makes everything better”

Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc.

Every time they ask for a first time my mind starts racing like a crazy computer glitch….it shows me 50 million first days….I keep saying I am old so I have many, many, many first days behind me and many, many, many more first days to come…provide you live long enough you will too….LOL

To the task at hand…my first day in second grade….I guess I’m not that old if I can recall that…maybe not it’s the experience that allows me to recall…

I began my budding school days at a school named Paul Revere, it still stands on 71st. and Ellis, on the south side of Chicago.

I have always loved school. The summer of 1st grade was coming to an end, I was a big girl now because I am going to the big kids class, I can remember my mom, aunties and especially my older sister Jaqueline constantly reminding me all summer long….I fall and begin to cry “you’re a big girl now, we don’t cry “ Jackie would say.

“You’re a big girl, eat your vegetables”, my aunt would say. It got to the point during that summer I just wanted to be a little kid again…. big people had to much responsibility for themselves.

Summer went September came it was time to be a big girl and go to second grade. We lived 3 houses down from the school. That morning I excitedly went to my mom and asked her if I could walk with my friends to and from school, after all “I am a big girl now”. I vaguely remember the look of concern on her face as she agreed.

My friends came to my house to walk with me the three houses down to school, We were all excited and jibber jabbering those few steps to the school. As we approach our play ground to find our classroom line, we exchanged our good byes went to our assigned spots.

The school doors opened, each grade went through the doors walking in perfect lines one by one we approached our classrooms, disappearing one student at a time into the doors of our classrooms with the teacher standing there with a big bright smile.

As I walked through the door I remembered noticing the walls adorned with colorful artwork, alphabet charts and a sea of desk neatly arranged, each adorned with supplies.

I sat down in my seat and the day began. I remember it being a long day and wishing it would end, I missed my mom. I wanted to go home, it was ok just a lot for one day.

As the day came to a close and we were let out of the building my friends met me in the playground. We all gathered excitedly each jabbering about our day, not paying much attention to our surroundings as we walked. I noticed we were at a corner I had not been at before. I began to look around and didn’t know where I was, panic stricken I began to cry….my friends tried to calm me but it was not working. I was lost.

One of my friends noticed a crossing guard, she grabbed my hand and pulled me running towards her. We approached her, snot running down my face as I attempted to tell her I am lost, my girlfriend had to tell her.

We , the crossing guard and my friend walked my friend home first, it looked like it was getting late. Once my friend was home safely. The crossing guard looked at me and said “can you tell me what’s by your home?”, I remembered replying, “I live on the same street of the school,” she smiled took my hand as we began to walk towards the school.

We walked, and walked to me it felt like months. I remember thinking I would never see my mom again. Suddenly, I look up, I see my mom standing on the porch with neighbors. I ran to my mom crying, so happy to see her. She kisses my face hugs me so hard I think I might break. She digs in her apron pocket, pulls out a piece of chocolate hands it to me, I put it in my moth and remember it’s the sweetest thing….for a couple of months afterwards my sister or brother had to walk me to and from school.

That was the first time in all the many times that I got lost….Oh, and that chocolate did make everything better….Lol

It’s Wednesday, a new opportunity for joy and success, keep shining.

Donna