There was something in the air this morning -- a happiness, a feeling of goodness and light. After days of rainy weather, the sun was shining. People practically bounced like Tigger, grinning maniacally as they gave a “Happy New Year!” greeting to the crossing guard and other parents as we walked our kids to school. I, too, felt the euphoric buzz, giving my daughter a quick kiss on the cheek as the bell rang. I said my good-bye to the crossing guard, dashing across the street and down the hill. I waved at my colleagues -- the other moms and dads -- as we shared a moment of communal ecstasy. It was the first day of school after a two week "vacation." No more gift wrapping. No more holiday stuff to do. No more kids hanging around ... all ... day ... long ... needing to be fed and intellectually stimulated. (Okay, so my kids may not have gotten too much of the latter -- although I did see them playing “Big Brain Academy” on the Nintendo DS during one of our road trips -- and I did feed them, on an as needed basis.)
Yes, we were free. At least until 3 o’clock. Just enough time to reminisce about when the kids were little babies and were so cute and cuddly -- a time which neither they nor I remember very clearly anymore -- and then use the remaining six hours and twenty nine minutes to do all the errands and other things-I-am-responsible-for-in-life that I can cram into that timeframe.
Unfettered.
Ohhhh, yeah.
