first day of school

thirteen years ago she was going to her first day of school ever

 I had very mixed feelings that day.  I was starting a new job in the company I worked and she was starting school.  it was a very emotional day
and then I got a speeding ticket on the way to pick her up from school.

today, thirteen years later.  on her way to her first day of college.

 it was another emotional day but I'm better at dealing with them these days.  my feelings were that of pride in my daughter for taking some grown up steps in her life.  any emotions that rent any tears is more for the passage of time and that of missing my little girl.

 she's not (and hasn't been for a long time) little anymore.

she's been anxious to get started with school.  needing something different to do and different people to meet has been a big part of her desire to go to school.

all as it should be
 

starting band this year

this year Emma will be required to choose either band or choir.  I am really really not a fan of the choir at our school.  that may have more to do with the teacher than much else.  I am praying that Emma does not join choir.  sitting in Erica's choir concerts were the worst.  but that's not the point of this post...

Emma wants to be in band and when I asked her what instrument she wanted to play she said Oboe, because I had once said to her that she should play oboe because I like the sound of them.
we then had a discussion about how she should choose something because she wants to not because I want her to.  so she still said oboe.  but!  oboe is a very difficult instrument to master and when we talked to the people at the music store they said that it would be wiser to start on something that would be easier but similar and work up to it.
so now she has had her heart set on a clarinet, just like Erica.

I stopped by the music store today just on a whim (since I was in town anyway and it was right there) and I went inside and talked about payment options and if they might have a wood clarinet since they sound better.  I was just going to leave with a brochure and a contract for payments to look over but then thought I'd better ask and pick one up since school is about to start and people have been taking all the instruments they can.

so I walked out of there with a clarinet and reasonable monthly payments.

I think she will be terrific