FDOS!

 Apparently in Broward it was Monday, but here in the 305 today is FDOS -- First Day of School. Talk about a milepost in our lives -- FDOS is a billboard of one.

I guess D1's FDOS was 1994 -- she would have turned 5 in November of '93 and missed the cutoff for kindergarten. But I recall she was perfectly dressed with hair perfectly combed, and so excited to begin her learning career at Leewood. By First grade, she was clearly the first one finished with tests, perfectly performed, and she nerdily walked between classes holding a book and bouncing into the kid in front of her. The teachers and principals called us in -- skipping kids was rarely done then, but D1 seemed the perfect candidate, and she went -- to second grade. The Spelling Bee was a few weeks after she joined her older classmates, and I recall dropping her off one am saying not to get stressed -- she was new to the grade and it was ok if she struggled. She looked at me straight in the eye and said "Oh no, Daddy, I'm going to win -- I'm the best speller," and she did -- made it to the regionals Downtown where she lost to an Asian or Indian kid. Ha -- the Ds always point out my political incorrectness -- but that's exactly what happened.

Since she skipped, she was 4 grades ahead of D2, so D2's FDOS came 1996. Wifey dropped off both girls with instructions to D1 that she was to walk her sister inside. Wifey parked and observed -- D1 brought D2 to the front door and instructed her where to go when the door opened -- and then walked off to be with her friends. Wifey was angry, and thereafter D1 did as instructed.

FDOS days where I could attend were great. The supplies were new. None of the dunce kids had messed up yet. It reminded me of Opening Day in the MLB -- every team might well win the Series -- until the realities of losing set in during the season.

And today, Little Man begins kindergarten! Baby Man goes to private pre school, and Pre K-3 starts Monday, I think. But the journey of K-12 has its genesis today.

I know I can't be objective, but Little Man is smart as a whip with a vocabulary years ahead of his age. He says things like "Actually..." and "Come to think of it..." In the car the other day, after D1 gave the dog Lemon antibiotics following dental surgery, he asked how germs can find their hosts without eyes. I'm predicting we have another learner on our hands, if not skipper.

D1 is bringing the boys over Saturday -- we're watching them when she goes to a cut-less Bris. Her BFF Alyssa, who always said no babies, surprised us by having her first -- at 37! We're thrilled for her and Freddy -- they're going to be awesome parents. And like lots of Reformers -- no mohel -- the cut was done in the hospital, and there's a party at the house. Wifey and I are invited, but I think we'll save her family from the turmoil of our grandsons -- we'll keep them here and let D1 enjoy.

Saturday Little Man will sleep over, and I'm sure there'll be bagels at first light -- and then I need to get him back home early for his prima Layla's 7th birthday! Man -- I remember when his Mom Vera was pregnant -- she hosted T Day, and was worried that, as a Peruana, she hadn't made it sufficiently American. I told her we might well have been in Oklahoma...

I'm sure Little Man will have tales to tell. He and I already get each other. When I called over Tuesday night, D1 was in the middle of her evening craziness -- feeding the boys before bed time. But Little Man heard my voice on the speaker phone, and said "Grandpa Dave?" I said hello. "I love you" was all he needed to tell me. 

I told him I was excited for kindergarten, and maybe by Middle School we steal him and have him go to Palmetto Middle like his Mommy and Tia Avi. He laughed. You never know...

But I wish all the teachers, parents, and kids a fine FDOS. The traffic will begin to suck again, but what are ya gonna do? Our city is about the future, and FDOS is about the future...