School Supplies

I glanced out my window watchin' kids plod along to school today. I recalled my school days and how things have changed along the way I watched the little fellers hunched over with their over-loaded packs. 'Tis a wonder the little dudes don't develop a twitch in their sacroiliacs! I wore overalls and shoes that I was told by Mom I'd better not scuff! Nowadays, kids are sportin' Rebok shoes and all kinds of fancy stuff! If they don't have the latest and greatest, they're bound to pitch a snit! Appearances mean everything even to kindergartners, on the face of it! To begin school in days of yore, I was required to supply a pot of glue, Couple of No. 2 pencils with erasers, ruler, ink and a ruled pad or two. Wrapped in a newspaper for lunch, a baloney sandwich and apple for a snack. When my grandkids showed me their list of supplies, I nearly had a cardiac! Included were - a backpack, Rigatoni noodles, crayons and composition books, A cell phone, calculator, protractor and for reading, one of those fancy Nooks, Facial tissues, scissors, a ruler, colored pencils, pencil sharpener and erasers, Elmers glue, Ziploc bags, a ream of paper and plastic dividers to use as spacers! One change of clothes in case of accident to include underwear, pants and socks, Disinfectin' wipes, three-ring binders and a padlock for individual locker locks! I am caused to pause and ponder how we "oldies" got a solid education, Sans all the geegaws and fancy frills that are now required for graduation! Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired © All Rights Reserved