Back to school season is in full swing. Having worked at the Gap for 12+ years I have had my share of planning, prepping, implementing, and selling for the mad rush to get ready for school. Sometimes I miss that excitement. I do not miss folding jeans, and cleaning up fitting rooms. Yes, I have had to deal with pee, used tampons, and people having sex in the dressing rooms. The joys of retail.
The above photos is my elementary school in Neenah. I went there from kindergarten thru 6th grade. I fondly remember Mrs V. She was a nose picker and had bullet boobs. Singing with Mr. Raboin, and Mrs. Fischer. Getting an art scholar ship to the Bergstrom Museum with Dan Wheeler and Greg Radtke.
I then moved on to Shattuck Junior High. This is the same place my parents went to high school. Those were some awkward years. Drama Club, gym class, and French Classes with Madame Teetz. The Disney Spectacular where I was the MC. " Ladies and gentlemen, moms and dads, children of all ages, welcome to the wonderful world of Disney". The we broke out into Zip-a-dee-do-dah! And dances!
Onto Neenah High School. That damn rocket/missile was put in front of the school when I was there. There was controversy because it is actually a missile. I always thought we should have a tampon as our mascot because of Kimberly Clark being headquartered in Neenah. "Neenah, we will tamp on you!" Go tampons! Overall, I have pretty good memories of high school. I made some very close, dear friends who got me through some difficult times. I will always remember Gretchen Jensen insisting I get her home fast, after school, because she had "pokey poops"! Doing coat check for Key Club at the basketball games. Drama with Mr. Rod Johnston. Choir with Mr. Vine. Sleeping in study hall.
Senior year was the best, because everyone started to realize they were about to go off onto college or into the real world, and their cliques really no longer were valid. I already had enough credits to graduate, so I took a lot off varied classes to fill my time. Speed Reading, Speech, Art, Drama, and many study hall periods.
Finally, onto the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. I lived at home and commuted to save money. I had to pay for myself. My parents did help out a bit with books and gas money. I worked at the Gap, and went dancing a lot in Green Bay at The Option, and Sunday nights at Club Brooklyn in downtown Appleton. I studied here for two years, and focused mainly on my required classes and anthropology. Sometimes, I regret not finishing, but then I think about where I am today, and the fact I have no student loan debt, and I am OK with it.
Back to School shopping was a blast for me. Grandma Le Gault would give each us $100 for clothing and supplies. Back then that didn't go too far. We didn't have Old Navy, Gap Kids, etc. We had Kohls, Jc Penny, Maurices, County Seat, and Sears. Clothing prices seem much cheaper now then back then. The smell of new shoes, and a new Janus back-pack filled with new spiral notebooks and pencils. A fresh start. New opportunities. This is part of the reason I love fall.
What memories of back to school will you never forget? If you have kids now, do you dread this time of year, or look forward to it? Remember Trapper Keepers? Mine was red!
