Winter

Winter

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Sweet Days

I took this last year, but I was thinking of fall today. When I was a kid school started the day after Labor Day. I might be starting school on Monday, but in my heart, that real first day of school is still the Tuesday after Labor Day. New hot clothes, having to wear new shoes when I had ran barefoot all summer. Riding the bus every morning. New pencils, new notebooks, boxes of crayons. I still want to buy new boxes of crayons every year. The smell of the class rooms. They all still have that wonderful smell. I have never figured out if the janitor has some wonderful can of stuff he sprayed to make if feel like home.

I am going to repost a blog I wrote in 2009. It says it better than I can say today. Have a lovely weekend.

I looked outside today and my yard was littered with leaves. I told the kids about it as they looked out the window, and one of them remarked, " that is the best tree, it always mourns for us because school is getting ready to start. As I thought about that, when you live in a place you grew up, as Robert Lewis Stevenson put in his book.

From Child's Garden of Verses
As from the house your mother sees
You playing round the garden trees,
So you may see, if you will look
Through the windows of this book,
Another child, far, far away,
And in another garden, play.
But do not think you can at all,
By knocking on the window, call
That child to hear you.  He intent
Is all on his play-business bent.
He does not hear, he will not look,
Nor yet be lured out of this book.
For, long ago, the truth to say,
He has grown up and gone away,
And it is but a child of air
That lingers in the garden there.
So as I stand and stare at the tree, I see all of the children who have clung to its
branches in the last days of August, knowing that summer was almost over.

Life is good.

~Kim~

23 comments:

Tammy ~ Country Girl at Home ~ said...

Kim,

I remember those days of starting after Labor Day...the new clothes...the smells! And I LOVE Robert Louis Stevenson. He has the sweetest poems and after reading about his life, I love it all the more!

And what a wonderful tree. There's a tree down the road near the turn off to our house that was lovingly given a name by my oldest. His name is Max PJ. He named it when he was two and your tree reminds me of it!

Have a great weekend!
Tammy

Heather said...

That is the most wonderful tree every! The poem is just perfect. I love the smell of my classroom at the beginning of the year- clean, new supplies. I love, even as a teacher, to go to Staples and buy supplies.

Your poem reminded me of a favorite book I read to my students called Tom's Midnight Garden. I love that book. That poem would fit right in. Thank you for sharing your heart... Beautifully said! Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,
Heather

GretchenJoanna said...

Your child's comment about his appreciation of the tree mourning for the children going back to school -- it is so wonderful! Dear tree, dear children, God bless them.

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

I always get a little excited the first day of school. The kids all look so cute with their new sneakers and backpacks. The floors are all gleaming and you can just feel the excitement in the halls. The poem is lovely and its so nice to have a special tree like that in your yard.

Debbie said...

i adore that tree and the precious little ones under it!!

Beth said...

Life is indeed good. I need to remember that today. Lovely post.

Christine said...

Sweet, sweet post and verse.
It is how I feel about summer at the end of August; joy tinged with regret because it's going too fast and nearly over.
The pictures are precious too!

TexWisGirl said...

that is sweet. :)

Kessie said...

What a nice picture. I decided we'll start school on Monday and make the little twerps work their brains. It's supposed to drop down to 94 by Wednesday. I'm doing my happy dance!

Miss Debbie said...

I love the part about the tree mourning...very poetic! I always loved new school supplies, They have so many pretty composition books now...ours were just solid colors. I always want to buy one even though I have no need for it! Hope your first week of school is a good one!

Julia said...

I like the kids analogy of the tree mourning for them because school is starting. That so cute.

I'm noticing that the days are already getting shorter so Fall is not far away. I can't believe how fast August is moving along.

I hope that you have a great school year this year.
Hugs, JB

Kim said...

I always loved the first day of school. (geek lol). And you know I love that pic of the kids pole dancing ;). (sorry but that cracks me up very time. I'm twisted)

Unknown said...

Love the image of the kids with the tree. I miss those days (But not all the shopping that goes with it)

moosecraft said...

I always loved going back to school... for the supplies, meeting new friends, and starting yet again with a fresh clean notebook. What will the year bring? :-) I like how one of your children said about the tree mourning them going back to school... so poetic! For me, I'd rather be schooling in the summer in the ac... and then out running barefoot in the leaves and the cool air of autumn! :-)

Pom Pom said...

Just this morning Bill and I were discussing what school is. If it was just a place to learn, it might not be so scary. It's community and very diverse. I long for the old days sometimes!
I love your tree with the cute monkeys all around. Lol!

annie said...

the kiddos here went back on thursday, I am reminded of the old school now long gone to ashes in a huge fire. But the smell of chalk, the oil soaked floors, the huge balcony, the stage with velvet purpule drapes, and so much more live on in the memories of my mind. So good to recall the sweet good times of childhood.
I love Stevenson!

Nellie said...

School started for our local county last Tuesday, and our grandchildren (in another state) began last Wednesday. The first full week is coming up for both! This is the tenth year for me to be retired from teaching elementary school (3rd grade).

xo Nellie

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

Oh I love this, and the poem and photo with your words... I can feel every bit of it right with you.

Kerin said...

Beautiful post!
I too love that Fall is on it's way.

I love the pictures that you posted with this blog post. Beautiful.

Smiles :)
Kerin

Empty Nester said...

I've been working on a post about missing the whole back to school thing. And now you've got me thinking about trees- the magnolia in our backyard and the oak in the front yard that have both played host to all the lovelies and their friends over the years. The RLS poem added just the perfect touch!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

My grands were here last night- we had a back to school bbq and I watched them all playing and laughing, trying to get in one more fun day. Today it is back to school!

designchic said...

Perfect summer days and beautiful post...

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

I love that photo of that tree ... and the little ones around it!

I remember the smell and joy of the first day of school. I loved all the new supplies ... new pencils, new crayons, new notebooks, etc. So much hope and possibility ... a new beginning, a new hope.

DD may be starting school today, too. Praying for you both as you start a new school year.