We're counting days (9) until school is over. I even made a waiting chain for my kids.
It's a momentous season for us. My son is heading to Calvert Hall College High School, and my daughter is moving up to our local middle school.
That means the next two weeks are packed with final band concerts, celebrations, ceremonies and class picnics.
 |
| Miss J on clarinet. |
Today, I'll join the fifth graders at Centennial Lake for their picnic. There will be kickball, a walk around the lake, watermelons, and snowballs (the Maryland version). To share the celebratory mood, here is Gregory Djanikian's poem, "Immigrant Picnic."
Immigrant Picnic
It's the Fourth of July, the flags
are painting the town,
the plastic forks and knives
are laid out like a parade.
And I'm grilling, I've got my apron,
I've got potato salad, macaroni, relish,
I've got a hat shaped
like the state of Pennsylvania.
I ask my father what's his pleasure
and he says, "Hot dog, medium rare,"
and then, "Hamburger, sure,
what's the big difference,"
as if he's really asking.
I put on hamburgers and hot dogs,
slice up the sour pickles and Bermudas,
uncap the condiments. The paper napkins
are fluttering away like lost messages.
"You're running around," my mother says,
"like a chicken with its head loose."
"Ma," I say, "you mean cut off,
loose and cut off being as far apart
as, say, son and daughter."
She gives me a quizzical look as though
I've been caught in some impropriety.
"I love you and your sister just the same,"Read the rest at the Poetry Foundation.
The diversity in our local schools has been a gift. At the elementary school's International Night, we learned that dozens -- plural -- of languages are spoken by the school's families.
Tonight, I will be working the photo booth at the 8th grade celebration. My son will be sporting a black suit, bow-tie, black high-tops with neon green laces and shades. Some of the girls bought their dresses in February. We put my cool customer's ensemble together yesterday.
Join the poetry part at Picture Book of the Day. Anastasia is hosting Poetry Friday!
