"Back to school", as sung by Billy Madison

I woke up this morning with an extra spring in my step. As an adolescent, I hated this day. As an adult, I love it. Most of Texas goes back to school. My mentoring and tutoring programs start back up at work. Lane begins teaching his 21st freshman English class (p.s. I am crazy proud of this guy. I made him and egg sandwich for breakfast to show him how proud I am). It is the eve of Harper moving up to the 1 year old class at PDO. And, it is the beginning of "Fall," minus the 109 degree weather.

More than anything, I like the feeling of routine and structure that comes with school in session. My life isn't actually that different, just kind of feels like everyone is back where they should be.

To celebrate today, I am wearing my Chi Omega pledge shirt and am cooking meaty eggplant casserole. Nothing says "Bring on the school year!" like an over sized faded tee and a Pyrex medley of ground beef and purple veggies.

To all the Baylor freshman. Good luck! I noticed an increase in my anxiety last week while driving around campus and seeing the move-in tents. Remembering getting dropped off at college gave me the "williams" in my stomach. Lane says I have a super-hero power of taking on other's stress. The  only hiccup is that the other person doesn't actually feel less stressful...I just feel more. I call it empathy. He calls it a mental health issue.

Nonetheless, happy 2011-2012 school year, people!