WELCOME CLASS OF 2037

Joy got a taste of kindergarten last week. The Summer Success program gives kindergartners a chance to check out the grade school, become familiar with riding the bus, learn the location and layout of their classroom, follow school rules and itinerary, etc. It gives the teachers an opportunity to meet the new students.

We think Joy enjoyed it. She did not get off the bus crying. She seemed okay. Maybe a little tired.

On Thursday, the last day of Summer Success, an orientation session was held in the gym for the parents. The principal and both assistant principals were there to do a slide presentation and answer questions. The first PowerPoint slide read: WELCOME CLASS OF 2037.

What!? 2037? Holy crap. I assume that for Joy’s graduation ceremony, someone will send a driverless electric van to pick me up from the assisted living facility. Unless graduations are virtual in 2037.

The orientation was similar to those I attended in the 1990s. However, this time there was more discussion of online forms, Google forms, QR codes, apps, parent portals, Infinite Campus, iPads, et cetera.

And of course, there was a police officer in flak jacket patrolling the gym.

Joy was excited every day last week. She stood at the front door each morning, hopping and clapping and eagerly waiting for the monstrously huge yellow school bus to arrive. Her backpack looked so big on her. But I know she will grow into it so fast. And she will grow into her identity as a student, a classmate, a girl, a friend, a sister. Maybe someday she will be an athlete, an artist, an employee, a wife. All I know is that since December 10, 2018, she has been the most loved baby girl in the world.

Deb and I are also excited. And we are also nervous, hopeful, worried, scared, and emotional. And even though I’m not quite ready for Joy to take this step into the world, I know that she is ready. And that’s what really matters.