The Urbane Homestead

When in Rome

My nephew Sam caught a salmon with his bare hands while we were in Skagway, Alaska! Pictures at The Plot Thickens, my sister's blog.

Second grade!

The sidewalks in our neighborhood were crowded this morning with kids in brand new backpacks and parents in tow (or parents with kids in tow, in the case of the kindergarteners). Last Friday, the air felt heavy and languid, the streets were hot and still—today's weather is exactly the same, and yet the air was buzzing with anticipation, and the whole neighborhood seemed fresh and new. Kids were bouncing with excitement, despite the fact that every single child I've talked to in the last two weeks has said they were NOT looking forward to school.

Henry and Bruce and I walked Joe to his first day of second grade. He held our hands all the way there, and didn't object to my coming into the class with him to meet his teacher and see which of his friends are his classmates this year. Every time I hold his hand now, I hang on tight, knowing that these days are numbered; it can't be more than a matter of months until he refuses to let us walk around in public like that. And when I left his class, I gave him a big hug and many kisses, just in case he decides tomorrow that he's too old for that sort of thing.