'Tis the Season of Firsts

Wow! Just like that, summer's winding down and fall is knocking on our door. Ready or not, here it comes! It's the season of changing colors, cooler temperatures and the harvesting of crops. Fall is definitely a time of change. Yet to me, fall is also the season of "firsts." Let me explain.

With fall comes the "first" day of school, the "first" sign of frost, that "first" pot of chili, and that long awaited "first" football game. While the calendar might suggest that fall has not yet officially arrived, the season of "firsts" has already begun for our family.

Let me start with my granddaughters. Joslyn (12) and Maggie (8) have started going to a new school this year. That certainly brings many new firsts - especially "first" impressions - faculty, facility, teachers and friends - that's a whole lot of "firsts!"

Then there's my niece, Hana. She experienced her own "first" when she packed up and left for her "first" year of college. Oh my! Talk about life changing! She's doing fine, but the rest of us are still trying to adjust to that "first." (Miss ya Hana!)

And last but not least, I've recently had my own personal "first" - my "first" city council meeting, sitting on the opposite side of the table! Scary but oh so interesting!

So that's just a sampling of the recent Stamp family "firsts." Oh yeah, there's more. So much more that I'm starting to contemplate another "first" - becoming a member of the "wine of the week" club!

Recently my daughter-in-law, Margaret, told me a little story about another "first". It gave me such a chuckle. I just have to share! So here goes:

My son and daughter-in-law recently purchased a new vehicle - one that I would say is pretty classy. Put it this way - it's definitely something you would not see your grandma driving!

Anyway, it's the "first" day of driving the new vehicle to school. Margaret is the chauffer and sweet, little Maggie is buckled up in the back seat. (Joslyn's classes are primarily online at this time.) The new, black, shiny "land yacht" (as I call it) smoothly makes the drive and arrives at the school just prior to the ringing of the first bell, and wouldn't ya know, every single high school kid is on the playground. And of course, every teenage head snaps a simultaneous 180. Yep! Instantly at least 90 pairs of eyeballs became glued to the land yacht! Oh my goodness! You'd think Marty McFly had just driven up in "Back to the Future's" souped up Delorean!

So with all this attention, our little Maggie couldn't help but notice! In her sweet 9 year old voice, she says, "Mommy! Why is everyone looking at us!"

And her quick thinking mommy replies, "Because you're so pretty Maggie!"

Well, that's all it took. Maggie paused for a moment and right before she exited the car, she turned and said, "Well I guess I did get new glasses!"

And that my friends, is another new first. Maggie now wears glasses!!