firsts

We had a week of “firsts” around here. My son for the first time ever decided to be a tray at school and buy a cafeteria meal. He has never, and I mean never, ever, wanted to mess with the line, the wait, and then the sometimes rush that comes with eating in the cafeteria when you end up sitting down last. I have told him for years that he should try it, especially because he is the main one in the family who likes real food. He is not really a sandwich kid. He is more of a gravy, mashed potatoes and chicken fried steak kind of fellow; therefore, I have always thought that a school tray might be just what he needed. I have suggested. He has said no. I have mentioned it. He has said no. It just took time….nearly 7 years to be exact before he took the plunge. When he came home and announced his big news to me, he was a happy camper and said he could not believe he had waited so long to try it. Our other first was that for the first time in 14 years, I found myself behind the wheel of a car. I started off when I had my first child in a Ford Explorer and graduated to a Suburban. My family grew big and grew quickly, so I have never downsized in the automobile department. That is…until now. We got a car to help with the rising, and staying high for some reason I might add, cost of gasoline. I sometimes make three or four trips back and forth to town in a day. I did not expect to like the car at all. I have been in a big SUV for so long that I just knew I would feel like I was tiny and cramped in a car. Much to my surprise, I love it. I can honestly say that I would never drive my big Suburban again if I did not have to. When we all go somewhere though or we need to pile a lot of junk in the back, we will still need the bigger ride. Friday morning when I made my school rounds and zipped in and out of parking spaces with ease, I thought….I can’t believe I waited so long to do this.