Eva: Do you have a girlfriend, Ben?
Ben: Well, kinda. We broke up.
Eva: Oh?
Ben: But if I know her, she will be back.
Ben: It only took one game of air hockey to make her my girlfriend.
The scene out my backdoor describes what summer is supposed to look like; flowers blooming, ferns hanging from the back porch enjoying the shade, and a mist of water that comes their way. Hearing the girls squeal delightfully as they splash in the pool fills the summer air. Watching Charlotte get on the top stair and say, “Watch, Ma!” and do a complete belly flop, or Eva doing her mermaid flips over and over brings laughter that spills over. The smell of charcoal drifting over the pool as Daddy lights the grill and the dogs all waiting patiently for a taste of perfection makes for the perfect family scene in any movie.
It was early, and the fog was still lifting over the hills, yet I could hear the morning call from a Whippoorwill as they told their neighbors hello. “Eva, get up. It is time to go gather school supplies,” I announced. Dressed in our finest; shorts and baseball cap, and Eva with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, highlighting the features of her face and big brown eyes, we headed off to town.
“Mom, you forgot to get napkins. Never mind,” She says as Eva wipes chocolate donuts all down her arm. I stared in disbelief. She laughed with her donut in hand as she tried to look over the front dash.
Eva beamed excitedly, knowing all the new items we were going to purchase. Yet, some concern was etched on her forehead as she thought about Charlotte missing out on the fun. I assured her that Charlotte would get her time too. There was plenty of me to go around when her time came. As for that day, Charlotte was happily on the mower with Daddy showing him how to drive; the zigzags in the grass proved very effective.
A dear family friend mentioned that school shopping was one of her children’s favorite times of the year. She had four children, but she took time for each of them. “When my kids were young, I would take each one separately to town. We would pick out their new clothes and supplies for school. After we were finished, I would take them to lunch. It was their special time with Mama,” Susan said.
Her reminiscent heart reminded me of my mother. Walking through the store doors, you could see the isles of school supplies. Our school lists were always at the front of the store. Each person just grabbed their grade sheet and headed for the school supplies. I can hear my mother saying, “Now, girls. You’re not getting everything you see. so don’t go in here asking.” That was code for we are on a budget, and I will get what I can. She was actually quite a softy, and we knew it.
One year, my sister wanted a Tweedy Bird backpack. Mom’s heart was broken. It was more than she had to spend, so she told my sister she could not get it. A few days passed, and she returned to purchase it against the family budget, but it was gone. I am guessing she had talked with my father, and they had found the extra cash, but by that time – it was too late.
When we got older, we would take a memorable trip to Rapid City, SD. It was a bigger city with a huge mall and fun eating places. It was an exciting weekend! Mom and Dad had some lifelong friends living in Rapid City then, so we would always stay at their house. The kids would watch movies downstairs, and the adults would laugh way into the night, sharing funny stories and highlight reels of days gone by.
The next day our shopping trip would begin! We would spend the morning hours shopping for new clothes and then go out to eat at Red Lobster, which was quite a treat for us all!
After a fun shopping trip, we would head back to Pierre, where we would unload our new shopping bags and hang out our new clothes for school. I am sure the younger years were more enjoyable for Mom since the fashion changed as we got older and was not near as dainty and cute.
The first day of school would come, and we would proudly wear new shirts, shorts, and shoes. Backpacks were creased and stiff at first. Lunchboxes were in hand, and off we would go for our first day!
By third grade, we lived in the country on Dry Run Road, which began years of mom or dad taking us to school and dropping us off. Before that, we would walk the neighborhood and meet up with our friends to arrive at Buchanan School for a day full of learning and fun.
“Please don’t kiss my cheek, Daddy; all my friends are watching.” I am sure my words made his heart drop just a little in his chest, knowing he and Mom had done so many things right. I slid out of the truck and quietly said, “I love you.”
With all that I have done wrong
Bob Carlisle
I must have done something right
To deserve a hug every morning
And butterfly kisses at night.
I asked Eva a few days ago, “Eva do you know where Mommy’s favorite place to be is? “Yes, Ma’am,” she resounded. “Where,” I asked. “At home with Daddy, Charlotte, and me.” I nodded as a slight grin drifted across my face.
If there comes a day when she tells me not to kiss her in public or yell out the window, “Have a good day, Shug!” I will rest easy knowing I, too, did something right.
The student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. Luke 6:40
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