Friday was Joe's last day of preschool. Wednesday he'll go to his first day of kindergarten. Tuesday he will meet his teacher, Mrs. Dvorak. Since finding out his teacher's name, Joe has asked two questions: one, what color is her hair; and two, will there be themes [as there were at KinderCare] in kindergarten? At least one of these questions will be answered Tuesday. We shall keep you posted, Dearest Fans.
You know, when we signed Joe up at the KinderCare, when he was about four months along on the inside, we got the last October-start slot, and weren't we just so pleased with ourselves? Well that's done then and yes, it seems just a darling place, all enriching, and merry, and just so grand! There were footprints in paint on the walls! Oh just so charming! And yet when Julie took Joe in for a dry run two days--was it?-- before The Big Day, she distinctly remembers that she thought, "I might as well be leaving him at a crack house! We're such idiots!" Because see it wasn't going to be her holding him, feeding him, and changing him, when that was all he really needed and who could do it better? Or even just as good? It wasn't grand at all. It was awful, which was why she skipped the second dry run. Like the dry run would make the actual run any less decidedly tear-soaked and wet.
So wasn't it a new wheel on the wagon when Friday found her crying at drop-off, and at pick-up, and twice in between? Because of course--of course--it wasn't a crack house. It really was enriching and merry and grand. And Our Joe had a whole little Walter Mitty life there which we will never fully realize, which is of course delightful but also seems just the tiniest bit unfair, right? Like, Julie asked Joe if there was anything he wasn't going to miss about pre-K, and he said, "Well I'm not going to miss charting!" They always incorporate a little graphing in the themes or units and, turns out, Our Hero's not down with charting. All this time and who knew? It's not so important but it's those details that are the good stuff! (What he'll miss: "playing with [his] friends.")
Joe's teachers all hugged him, and Mr. Mark, who is awesome, but who also rocks a too cool for school vibe, choked up when he told Julie that "for two years, it had been an absolute pleasure." And because for a moment, he wasn't too cool for school, he got even cooler.
And then Julie and the bambini were in the lobby meeting Ted who'd arrived, too, and walking out with Darby (do you remember, Fans, when she was sort of obsessed with Joe?) and her parents and then it was done.
And it's not like we won't be back on Tuesday, dropping off Clara! But it won't be the same at all and, we'll be leaving her at the crack house without her big brother!
But really, it's sure to be grand. This we have learned. Raise your hands if you agree and we'll make a bar on a graph to represent all those people. Or we could go play with friends. That will surely make us forget that it was time to go, and perhaps remember--with due acknowledgement to Robert Frost--that though Time has flown, that with which we could not part, we have kept.
I could give all to Time--except
What I myself have held. But why declare
The things forbidden that while the Customs slept
I have crossed to Safety with? For I am There,
And what I would not part with I have kept.
Robert Frost, from I Could Give All To Time
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