Glasses and Lunch in the Same Day

Remember last week when I went to get my eyes checked? They told me it would take about a week for my glasses to be ready. That’s fine, but I know a week is just a safety net for them. They could come in earlier, but they don’t want people calling every single day. I can understand that since I’ve worked for places where orders were placed and the clients were very concerned about getting their merchandise on time. Anyhow, the eye place told me they’d call me when my glasses arrived. Since I was going to be in that area this morning I decided to call them, just in case. Guess what? My glasses were there. Now, unless the place had a delivery first thing this morning – I called about a half hour after they opened – my glasses were there, at least, by yesterday. Wouldn’t you know it; I didn’t get any phone call. Imagine that?

I can’t figure out why it’s so hard for them to do what they say they’ll do. There were three people working in the front, just as there was last week. I think one of them should be calling customers to tell them their glasses have arrived and are ready to be retrieved. It doesn’t have to be the same person every day making the phone calls; they can alternate. But they should still make the calls so people aren’t waiting any longer than they have to wait. I couldn’t wait to get mine so I’d be able to see. Regardless, I’ve got them and all is well. I can see street signs when I drive – out of both eyes, not just the right one like it was with my old glasses – and I can see the label on a medicine bottle without have to telescope my arms in and out to get the proper vision adjustment. Aaahhh; the simple pleasures in life.

Speaking of pleasures; I had lunch with Dolly at her school today. She wanted me to be there so I asked the teachers yesterday if it would be alright. It always is, Head Start encourages parent involvement, they just want to know ahead of time so the cook can prepare more food. So, promptly at 11:30 I arrived in the classroom while the class was sitting on the blue rug listening to their teacher discuss different kinds of services vehicles and who can drive them. “Right, this is a police car. Can a man drive it?” “Yes.” “Can a woman drive it?” “Yes.” “That’s right. Any of you here, both boys and girls, can grow up to be a police officer.” It was interesting to see their reactions that both men and women could be police officers, or paramedics, or bus drivers, or pilots. They were amazed and amused.

Then the cook wheeled lunch in on a cart and I helped one of the assistant teachers set the tables and get everything ready. The lead teacher, meanwhile, called each child by name, in twos and threes to go wash their hands for lunch. When Dolly saw me she was very excited and couldn’t wait for me to sit down at her table with her. I waited until all the kids had gotten their plates and napkins and had found their seats before I joined. I didn’t want to mess them up by sitting in the wrong seat. That would really confuse them and we just don’t to that to kids, especially when most of them are only three and four.

So I got a plate and a napkin and joined Dolly, three of her “friends” (the proper word for the students in the classroom), and her lead teacher; since I’m unsure if I can use her name, I’ll just say Miss C. Once the six of us were seated, Miss C. began to pass around the food. They do breakfast and lunch family style there; the food is served in small serving bowls and the children use the proper utensils – fork, spoon, tongs – to serve themselves. It’s adorable to watch them. They are so proud to have that privilege. So we received a plate of pizza on English muffins, celery and cucumbers along with Ranch dressing for dipping, orange slices for dessert, and milk. I was eating my lunch on a mid-sized paper plate, using half-sized tongs to serve myself, and drinking my milk from a four-ounce plastic cup. All the while I was sitting on a small, student-sized chair – the kind where an adult’s knees are almost at chest level – and my plate was on a small, student-sized table. My knees were at the same level as my plate. All the other adults were sitting that way also so I really couldn’t feel uncomfortable.

I helped Dolly get what she needed, and I helped another student, on my other side, get what he needed. We all chatted a bit about this and that – kids aren’t very worldly at this age so it was basically remedial conversation – but very adorable. Just watching these little people picking up food with mini tongs and placing it on their plates with so much pride was awesome. I’ve never been able to serve meals family style at my house because a) I don’t own any serving bowls and I won’t put hot pans on the table for risk of burn injuries; and b) until recently, the kids were so messy just eating that the after-meal mess was enough for me. Had they been able to serve themselves at the table, I’d have been cleaning for a good long while when dinner was finished.

I was also pleasantly surprised that the food tasted so good. Not that I expect school food to taste like complete crap, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve gone to school and I’ve tasted the food. When I got my lunch, I stuck with simple things like toasted bagels because the hot stuff was on the same level as hospital food. I know things have changed over the many years since I’ve graduated, but I still wasn’t expecting such a treat. It could also be that the cook only cooks for 24 people; give or take a couple. When you’re cooking for such a small group, as opposed to 500 or more in a regular school, you have more time to concentrate on quality rather than quantity.

So we ate our lunch, cleaned up, and sat back on the blue rug – the group meeting area – to listen to some bus safety techniques. At 12:15 Dolly and I left so I could get her to her Pre-K class at another school. I think I mentioned that it’s the only way I can have her in school full time. Because of budget cuts, there are no full-day Head Start programs in this area. Our lunchtime date was over, but it was immensely enjoyable. I’m thinking of asking the boys if they’d like me to join them for lunch one day but I’m not sure if they’d want “Mom” there with them where their friends could see. At the boys’ ages Moms are starting to be hidden in the background. “Who’s that lady over there?” “Shh, it’s my mom. If you don’t look at her she may just go away.” I don’t think Ty would have a problem with me there; it’s Zach who’s starting to refuse kisses in front of his friends. I’ll have to explain to him that chicks dig a dude who loves his mom; that’s how they can tell if he’s a nice guy. That might lighten him up a bit since he’s the real ladies man around here. I’ll let you know how he feels about that.

Until next time…peace to all.