9/2/09
Dropped the kids for their first day at school — and suddenly the morning feels quiet and still. Not in a bad way — there’s just a calm, expectant feeling hanging in the air. Chris and I come home, toss the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher, and I walk downtown to meet my old coworker Laura for coffee. A project from St. Martin’s awaits me on my desk, but…you know…priorities.
Woodstar Cafe: Wendy
As I’m bringing my latte outside to chat with Laura, the director at Lila & Stella’s old preschool stops me to say hello. Of course I’ve taken cellphone pictures of Stella’s entree into kindergarten, so I put down my things and yank out my phone. Wendy recalls that the last time she saw me here at the Woodstar, Stella was with me. Last spring — after I got laid off — I had taking Stella to the Woodstar for a little alone time with her, since Lila got dropped off at 8 and Stella didn’t get dropped off till 8:30. Prior to my layoff, I hadn’t had a chance for those kinds of outings with her very much — she’d been in all-day care since she was in diapers. But now that’s all over. Wendy gives me a hug. Her kids are in college now, but she remembers how it is.
Woodstar Cafe: Roz
Shortly after I sit down with Laura, my friend Roz, whose daughter is in the same kindergarten with Stella, comes by and we compare notes. Neither Roz’s daughter nor Stella were feeling certain about school starting. I tell Roz how this morning I said to Stella, “Do you know what today is?” and Stella answered grumpily, “Saturday!” But both girls seemed happy when we left them.
Woodstar Cafe: David
Once Laura and I start talking in earnest, the conversation distracts me and I only give a brief hello wave to an acquaintance, David, who rides up near us on his bike. I love that this town is bike friendly — and that so many people I know are on their bikes so much of the time. And it occurs to me that since my girls aren’t with me, it would be easier for me to bike into town, too. I make a mental note to remember that tomorrow. When my kids are back in school, again. Hallelujah.
