“When was the last time you did something for the first time?”
Today is a bit cooler than yesterday but still as humid. The clouds will come and go. I have an empty dance card today. I could do some chores, like the kitchen floor, but my sloth side is screaming for attention. I’m thinking a cold drink, a good book and deck time.
In the life of every kid, there are special events, one time only events. The first one in my life was when I started school. All of a sudden, everything had changed. I didn’t know the word carefree back then, but if I had, I would have lamented its loss. Every weekday became a routine. I even had to wear the same outfit, my uniform, every day. I had a white blouse, a blue tie and a blue skirt with straps because the first grade girls had to wear skirts with straps. I have my first grade picture. My hair is long, my two front teeth look new and in dire need of braces. I do remember it didn’t take long for me to get used to my new world. I loved learning. I love reading.
In the second grade was my first communion. We shopped at Jordan Marsh in Malden for my dress. We all wore white including the boys in their white suits. Somewhere is a picture of me on that day. I had my hands together as if praying. I wasn’t. My strongest memory is not the first communion itself, but the Cinderella watch my aunt gave me.
The eighth grade was monumental. It was almost a free for all. I had Sister Hildegard who had no idea what was happening. I left school early, came back from lunch late and read books tucked inside my textbooks. It was the most fun I ever had in school. I also took entrance exams for high schools, chose one, got a new dress for graduation, and went to Nantasket for our class day. I wore a new blouse and new clam diggers. Graduation is almost an afterthought.
More firsts would come starting with the ninth grade and moving on and on until now. My memory drawers are overflowing, but I’ll stop here and save chapter two for another day.
keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
August 3, 2024 at 1:20 pm
Dear Ms. Ryan,
I so enjoy your photo from early school days, what a cute, innocent looking girl you were. I also value your blog, filled with memories, insight, and honesty.
Sincerely,
Paul from Roselle, IL
August 3, 2024 at 1:41 pm
Paul,
Thanks so much for this comment. I appreciate your kind words. Thanks too for hanging around and reading Coffee!
August 3, 2024 at 2:13 pm
Hi Kat,
Today will be another clear hot day. Even though a cold front came through early this morning, the high temperature will be a cool 99°. 🙂
First time experiences stick with you regardless of your age. It’s called the law of primary. The first time I flew in an airplane. The first day of school, my first solo flight, first date, and thousands more. What makes life fun is when you go to work everyday and it feels like the first day when you were hired. If not, then it’s time to change careers or to retire. Everyone has memories stuffed in places in the mind’s eye. Some should probably be forgotten.
Unfortunately, summer is winding down as several school districts are starting classes in the next couple of weeks. Soon it will be fall. Here the heat won’t abate until late September. We always get a short hot spell even in early October.
August 3, 2024 at 6:45 pm
Hi Bob,
How exciting that you are below 100°! We were in the 80’s all day and had a killing humidity. Right now there is a bit of a breeze making the day bearable.
I am so glad for my memories. I can close my eyes and see so many places and events from my life. I can see my whole walk to school. I close my eyes and see the houses where we lived. I see Ghana in technicolor.
School here doesn’t start until after Labor Day. Schools have tried to change the date to earlier because the late start has them going well into June, but the teachers’ won’t allow the contractual change.
The most beautiful time of year here on the cape is fall, and it extends into October and even November. The cold ocean in the spring keeps the warm weather away, but in the fall the ocean stays warm and brings us glorious days.
August 3, 2024 at 9:01 pm
Well, we did hit the century mark, so much for the cold front. 😦
When my kids were in the Plano School district, (A suburb of Dallas), they started school the first week in August but the kids got a fall break of a week off in October. All the schools have air conditioning.
Going to the resorts in October avoided the crowds and the high temperatures. Unfortunately, the Texas Legislature mandated that no school district could start before August 15th. I called it the Six Flags law. The summer vacation businesses lobbied to get an extra couple of weeks of business. Goodbye fall break.
I’m watching the Red Sox visiting the Rangers. It’s 3 to 4 Rangers in the bottom of the eighth inning.
August 3, 2024 at 11:27 pm
You and I have such a different idea of a cold front and also, I bet, of a heat wave.
It is the same here on the cape. Restaurants and hotels need workers to stay until after Labor Day. College students used to be able to stay, but now, colleges start much earlier than in our day so high school kids are essential.
The cape still has tourists through October. That is the season of the tour busses, mostly with seniors.