Catholic Grammar School
Mom ironing my uniform, while I organized my notebooks and wrote my name on each cover.
Diary Entry from Last Day of Summer Vacation, 1984 (age 12)
"Today Dawn was over. We ate at Friendly's for lunch. Today is the last day of vacation. I got a hair cut."
Public High School
Applying DEPECHE MODE and THE SMITHS stickers to my blue binder and selecting three or four new wave outfits for the first week of school.
College Years
Throughout my college career, I transferred four times -- so the memories vary. For example, Freshman year, I recall Mom and I shopping Bed Bath & Beyond for a extra long sheets, a mini fridge and a hand-held shower caddy to hold my shampoos and soaps.
Memories of September 1992, preparing for Nassau Community College ... purchasing new clothes at Old Navy (they had just opened) with Scott. Memories of transferring to Stony Brook in September of 1993 -- Scott and I listening to Smashing Pumpkins and wishing "Summer of 1993" wouldn't end...
September = Newness
Most adults view January 1 as the beginning of a new year. Everyone makes their resolutions and thinks of New Year's Day as their fresh start. For me, it has always been September. There's something about the school fiscal year that fills me with a sense of newness. A glimmer of hope and excitement take over me. I imagine something amazing is in store. New friends, new pathways, new doors opening ... I blame this on the old school days. Does anyone else feel this way?
It's so funny, 'cause I tend to agree with you with the Sept sentiment. Not to mention the fact that the Jewish new year is actually in september as well. Maybe you have a little Jew in you. Wait, that didn't come out right. Sorry. Ooops.
ReplyDeleteLOL Copyboy!
ReplyDeleteI used to look forward to September as a time when I would feel renewed. The weather would be changing, getting cooler with the hope of fall in the air.
I have to agree with TS about feeling renewed by the cool weather, but I always dreaded school starting. Dressed in my Fall best, the weather always took a turn for hot that first week.
ReplyDeleteBeing nervous about new classes, new schedule, making it to each class on time, worrying if I would know anyone in my classes, hoping I didn't have any jerks in my classes... Used to stress me the heck out!
Wow... Thank goodness all that schooling is behind me! College was much better, but I was still nervous before every class, and tests? Forgetabowdit!!
Now I can be glad, all I have to look forward to is cool weather and the holidays. =)
September is always the "new year" for me too.
ReplyDeleteI remember being so excited to go to school.
Now I just get sad thinking about the kids going to school. I'm sort of a puss about it.
I definitely do! I lost that feeling for awhile, but now because my brothers are school aged, it's back in full force.
ReplyDeleteStarting a new year for me was usually when I started a new school, we moved so much that it was a regular occurrence.
ReplyDeleteOh, I can totally relate to the ironing of the Catholic School uniform! I went to Our Lady of Victory in Floral Park, then to St. Ann's in Garden City!
ReplyDeleteMy nephew just started at Nassau and my neice just finished at Stony Brook!
I love that September brings new possibilities, new hopes for the coming school year, etc... that's why we got married in September... it always feels like a new beginning.
And this morning I just found out I landed a new job that will start next Monday! Woo-hoo.... talk about new beginnings!
Great post! :)
Yup - have always loved September....probably more so because autumn is coming. :)
ReplyDeleteHey - missed you! Hope you get back to blogging more regularly again.
My internal calendar definitely resets in September. This will be my last fall in graduate school and it's making me a little sad.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the major divisions in my life were the end of the school year and the end of summer vacation. Isn't it also odd that back then summer break seemed to last for ever, and now it flies by?
ReplyDeleteA prapos to nothing, any word on the job, missus?
ReplyDeleteI have school age children, so my new new year always starts in September.
ReplyDeleteLove these little rites of passages. Thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeleteoh yes, summer memories.
ReplyDeleteI've always looked forward to the end of summer. In California, summers weren't too bad, but here in Texas, where it is hot humid and sticky, with tons of mosquitos right into bloody NOVEMBER...summer can't go away fast enough.
ReplyDeleteah summer of '93 I was getting ready/getting nervous for my first year of college and listening to Siamese Dream, nonstop. The best.
ReplyDelete