Happy Wednesday!

Another beautiful day.....a few clouds, but mostly sunny. Rain in the forecast - I hope not much.

We took a spur-of-the-moment trip to Marshall today. It was nice to finally see some field work being done. Crops are getting planted late this year. I can't tell you how much we're enjoying having this time to ourselves with no real demand on our time! I think both of us could get used to this no-work routine.

Graduation and the end of the school year are looming. The last time we visited kids/grandkids in Grain Valley, I asked how many days of school were left. I was asking the 8th grader - but my daughter, who teaches 5th grade, jumped in with the answer first! If I didn't know better, I would think she wanted to fast-forward past MAP testing! This is also the time everyone regrets all the snow days that had to be taken.

I can't help this time of year traveling back in my mind to my school days. Those last couple of weeks were so full of events, hectic last-minute preparations, the "big kid" seniors would take off on their senior trip. Then would come the final week, with Baccalaureate and Commencement, turning in books, cleaning out desks, and cleaning up classrooms before summer break. But the highlight of the year was the Last Day of School......and yes, for our school, that definitely needs to be in capital letters!

Our Last Day of School was a community event. When you walked into the gymnasium/stage area, three sides of the gym were lined with tables, and everyone brought home-cooked food. The smell was absolutely amazing. But before we could enjoy all that homemade goodness, there was the program. Every student from first grade through 12th participated in the program. The younger kids would sing. The upper grade schoolers would often do a short musical play. Junior High and Senior High glee clubs would sing, as well as solos and small vocal groups. The band would perform. A few years when I was in grade school, there was be square dancing as well. Mom almost blinded herself making my dress - we girls all had square dance dresses in a tiny (teeny, teeny tiny!) checked gingham, with a cross-stitched pattern on the skirt.

After the program was finally over, it was time to eat. By then everyone's tummies were rumbling! The afternoon was spent visiting, the younger kids playing on the playground (and usually having squirt-gun fights), and there were softball games. We always had team vs. alumni games, and that was the first time the newly-graduated seniors got to officially be "alumni" - some sort of imaginary line, I guess, crossed between the program and the games.

What a rite of passage that was - memories to always be cherished. Our community was so supportive of everything that went on at the school. Granted, most people in our community were former students - but the turnouts for all school events was impressive. It didn't matter if it was Last Day of School, athletic events, musical programs, the annual school play, or graduation. Our massive support system was there.

So if you run into me the next few days and I have a far-away look, just figure in my mind I'm back at BHS enjoying the Last Day of School!

TTFN