The Last First Day

Jenna began her senior year of high school on September 8th and, as I do every year, I was there to see her off. Things were a bit rushed this year and the early arrival of the school bus meant that there are no pictures of her waiting outside. Still, I was there so I will always carry that memory with me.

As the bus pulled away I realized that this is the last time that Pam and I will be standing here together like this, watching our daughter leave on the school bus.

I was wistful.

It's been a long journey getting to her senior year. As I stood watching her get ready to go my mind wandered back to my last first day of high school. I have no recollection of it; it was just another day. Not that my parents didn't care. Rather, Dad was already at work and Mom was still dressed for bed, working on motivating Mark and Barbara up out of bed and out the door, too. Still, while I don't remember my last first day I will always remember hers.

As I drove towards Boston I was in stop and go (mostly stop - long stops - school buses, remember?) traffic. I was following Jenna's bus about 6 cars back and she was sitting in the back of the bus. As we stopped to pick up more kids I sent a quick text to Jenna that her bus seemed awfully crowded. Her reply echoed that of seniors throughout the ages: "If any underclassman thinks they are gonna sit with me just because there are no more seats...they have a surprise coming."

Apparently seniors are seniors everywhere. I sat in my car and laughed and laughed. The more things change...

My daughter, the senior. Wow.

This last, first day of school was much as her first, first day of school. My daughter, marching off into her future, as her proud parents stand nearby and wave goodbye.