Back to school ~ #MondayBlogs

Our local schools open next week. It's been several years since either of my offspring were students in the local school system... somehow though I still tend to feel a bit morose over the idea of summer being over.

As a child I remember my mom having tears in her eyes the first day of school EVERY YEAR. My sister and I were always filled with the excitement of new adventures, showing off new outfits which Mommy sewed for us, painstakingly printing our names on brand new marble composition books, and looking forward to the fun of the nights sitting with our parents cutting open brown paper grocery bags to cover our school textbooks. Yet Mommy still looked sad as she sent us off that early September morning.

While our offspring were in school, my sister and I would commiserate by phone every September even as our children headed off with the same wide-eyed anticipation my sister and I always had. We relived fun summertime family adventures and looked forward to weekends and holidays. Of course as the kids grew more and more of their out-of-school days were filled with their peers and numerous social activities.

For some reason I am still conditioned to face the beginning of the school year with dread, I don't know why. But then again I still haven't recovered from my daughter's first day of kindergarten when she marched off with a big smile and not even a look backwards.

Wishing everyone a productive school year!

The King & I ~ memorable performances and songs

I don't remember if my sister was in Junior High School or High School, but I do remember clearly the performance she gave in the school's production of "The King and I" - she played Anna, the school teacher who arrives in Siam and impacts a society with kindness. As much as Anna teaches though, she also learns.

"It's a very ancient saying

But a true and honest thought

That if you become a teacher

By your pupils you'll be taught

As a teacher I've been learning

You'll forgive me if I boast

And I've now become an expert

On the subject I like most

Getting to know you

Getting to know all about you

Getting to like you

Getting to hope you like me

Getting to know you

Putting it my way

But nicely

You are precisely

My cup of tea

Getting to know you

Getting to know all about you

Getting to like you

Getting to hope you like me

Getting to know you

Putting it my way

But nicely

You are precisely

My cup of tea

Getting to know you

Getting to feel free and easy

When I am with you

Getting to know what to say

Haven't you noticed

Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?

Because of all the beautiful and new

Things I'm learning about you

Day by day

Getting to know you

Getting to feel free and easy

When I am with you

Getting to know what to say

Haven't you noticed

Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?

Because of all the beautiful and new

Things I'm learning about you

Day by day"

The King And I - Getting To Know You 

This song is a wonderful lesson for all of us as we go through life meeting people, building relationships and growing. Every person that comes into my life teaches me and I hope I leave them with something they will value as well.

Another of my favorite songs from The King and I is I Whistle a Happy Tune - this is a song I sing to myself whenever I get into a frightening situation (like driving over a bridge or submitting a new manuscript, ssshh...). Of course I sing it loud and clear and never when others are around, not because I am embarrassed by my nervousness but because NO ONE wants to hear me sing!

"Whenever I feel afraid

I hold my head erect

And whistle a happy tune

So no one will suspect I'm afraid

While shivering in my shoes

I strike a careless pose

And whistle a happy tune

And no one ever knows I'm afraid

The result of this deception

Is very strange to tell

For when I fool the people

I fear I fool myself as well

I whistle a happy tune

And every single time

The happiness in the tune

Convinces me that I'm not afraid

Make believe you're brave

And the trick will take you far

You may be as brave

As you make believe you are

You may be as brave

As you make believe you are

While shivering in my shoes

I strike a careless pose

And whistle a happy tune

And no one ever knows I'm afraid

The result of this deception

Is very strange to tell

For when I fool the people

I fear I fool myself as well

I whistle a happy tune

And every single time

The happiness in the tune

Convinces me that I'm not afraid

Make believe you're brave

And the trick will take you far

You may be as brave

As you make believe you are"

The King And I - I Whistle A Happy Tune

I love that show, The King and I, and all of the musical numbers. Years later my husband took me to see it on Broadway when Yul Brynner revived his performance in the early 80s. At the end of the show Mr Brynner came out to take his curtain call and refused to bow until everyone in the audience was standing an applauding. Remaining in character he stared at any stubborn audience members until they felt compelled to stand and cheer - it was a well known trademark of his and it was AWESOME!     

Yul Brynner & Gertrude Lawrence

I've seen several productions of The King and I and my husband and I both agree, there has never been a better King than Yul Brynner.

...but the best Anna I have ever seen is still my sister!