My school career began when my family and I lived in the James house in Van. Back when I was a youngster they didn’t have kindergarten in public school, so I attended a two-week preschool at J.E. Rhodes Elementary School. I don’t remember a lot about it, but I do remember riding a big school bus, and one classmate in particular riding in the backseat. His first name was Mark, and we eventually graduated high school together.
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Later on I started first grade. My teacher’s name was Mrs. Gilbreath. My friend Lisa who used to be my neighbor was in Mrs. Moore’s class. I was disappointed that she wasn’t in my class but I’m sure I made other friends. As a big sister I didn’t mind taking on responsibility, but once when the teacher was out of the room I took it upon my six-year-old self to stand up and tell the class to be quiet. Imagine my humiliation when the teacher caught me and gave me a quick swat with her hand on my backside. And I was only trying to help!
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My first grade class picture. Can you find me? (middle row, fourth from right)
My friend Mark stands right behind me.
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I wasn’t always that sure of myself, though. I remember sitting on the couch in our tiny living room while Daddy watched out the front window for the big yellow bus that would take me to school. I clutched a box of 64 Crayola crayons wrapped with a rubber band under which was stuck two buffalo-head nickels for the snack bar so I could buy a big red sucker or some Sugar Babies. Yes, the school peddled candy to children and we lived!
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As the bus neared our driveway, my parents would send me out the door where I would, with great difficulty, climb the bus steps with my short little legs and find an empty seat among all the big noisy kids. I felt so very small, and I can’t imagine how my parents must have felt watching me get on that big school bus. I remember sitting next to an older girl with a long ponytail, bony knees, and long black hair on her legs. Girls wore dresses to school in those days.
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At some point that year, my brother and I came down with the measles. Not the three-day German measles (rubella) but the more serious measles or rubeola. There were no vaccines back then, or at least they weren’t widely available or recommended like they are today. I remember lying on the couch and being very ill. Fortunately we suffered through the illness and recovered. I’m not sure how much school we missed.
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Coming home from school every day was memorable. Stay tuned for story time, music, Mercury dimes, and swimming lessons.
XOXO
XOXO
