Most Wonderful Time of the Year

There's a commercial for an office supply store that is a classic, and gets replayed every year about this time. It shows a dad taking his two kids shopping for school supplies; he is smiling and riding the shopping cart around, and the kids are frowning and shuffling alongside, all while the Christmas song is playing - "It's the most wonderful time of the year..." Yep, it's time for school to start up again.

Depending on your school district, your kids may already have started, are starting today or tomorrow, or will start Wednesday for most Morrison Ranch residents. The traditions have changed for The Mister and me with our empty nest; this season is not marked by school supply shopping, nor medicals for sports, nor band camp or football camp. Now we mark the change of season by diligently observing the school zones and driving slower through them and through our neighborhood, and by readying our checkbook for all our friends' kids and their fundraisers, and by vowing once again to do Christmas shopping early (an empty vow, in my case) since fall must be here even though it is still very hot outside.

Whether it's the Most Wonderful Time of the year is in the eye of the beholder; but it is an exciting time, full of promise and optimism. At least for the parents.