Throwback September
Today is the first day of school here in Toronto.
I remember my first day: my mother
made this soft Chambray dress in pale blue with a white collar and navy
blue bows. She also made a matching dress for my doll Mary Lou. My shoes
were polished navy blue when I left home, but when I came home they
were covered in caliche dust from the playground.
My hair was permed, I wore my Disney
Cinderella watch and I was very excited with my little plaid satchel as
it was essential to feeling like a real school girl at last. Inside I
carried a quarter for my lunch and in the afternoons I brought my art
home for my parents to admire. Inside the satchel's little flap my mum
taped an extra quarter in case I lost my daily quarter. I never lost my
lunch money, but I gave the extra quarter to friends a few times when
they lost theirs.
That was also the time I began dancing
lessons, piano lessons and art lessons. My parents determined I should
try all three for two years in hopes I would find I preferred one. And I
did: dance! I didn't pick up art again until my last year of high
school... and by that time I was teaching dancing and dancing
professionally while I continued my own lessons.
