Recess over

Four cars pulled up to the stop light on the one way street (heading east) at the same time. All various soccer mom type mobiles (though none, curiously, was a Volvo. Eternal love from me if you get that reference.) I, commanding the road in my Honda Pilot, was in the center and killed some time at the light (Will was in the back seat singing along with Puddle of Mudd... "She BEEEEPin hates me... la la la la.") to check out my fellow drivers. All of us, including me, had notebooks propped up against the steering wheel, reading with interest.

Said notebooks: school planners.

Welcome back, students and parents. School's in for the year...

Young William fared pretty well on his first official day as a second grader. Kept his glasses on the entire time, handing them to me in the car on the way home with a polite "thank you." Beats him tossing them on the floor or using them as impromptu drum sticks. He's in the midst of some changes these days -- seemingly for the better, although they don't call them growing pains for nothing. I anticipate this to be an extraordinary year for him. Call it mama's intuition.

I watched as Will and his pal Nino (along with their beloved teacher) walked out to the car line (which was a Hot Chaotic Mess) together and gave each other not only high fives, but hugs when they parted. Not "bro" too-cool-for-your-own-good hugs, but friend hugs.

If that doesn't sum up a good day, I don't know what does.

Here we go...