Wouldn’t you want to be an owl?
Not a real owl, of course, but a mascot – the wisest mascot imaginable. With the chance to fire up the parent crowd?
But was it merely a ‘Charlie Brown football”? Or did I really have a shot?
I’ve never been a mascot, never dressed with that big oversized head, never “hooted up the crowd”.
So, the school’s email solicitation: Do you want to be our owl?, forwarded by our daughter was the clincher for our decision to head for Charlotte and watch their 3 sons while they went to NY for the US Open, in bucket list celebration of her 40th birthday.
Plan B was locking them in the playroom for the long weekend, so we were a dramatic upgrade.
Her birthday not until Halloween, so she celebrates like her mother – in loooong and multiple stretches.
Her 2nd son just began kindergarten; the school placing each classroom into one of five different color-coded houses – Harry Potter style – complete with a ‘sorting session’, there being 5 areas of emphasis: Leadership and evading government accountability the two I remember.
The sorted remaining in their respective houses throughout their time at the school.
Her older son in the ‘Leadership’ house, and I can tell – he’s always saying “This way, PA”.
The ceremony was high energy and lots of fun – but a bit of relief for us jilted owls.
The students all filed out, the current house members dressed in their appropriately colored house T-shirts, followed by the kindergarteners.
Of course, each house had their own accompanying mascot, including an elephant, giraffe, and 2 other things I didn’t recognize; one might have been a Spiderman who’d melted in the 100 degree heat – and of course, the owl. Which accompanied the green clad leadership house.
It wasn’t the wise bird I envisioned; a fairly lame costume, without an owl head. I doubt Hedwig would have recognized him.
A silent thank you for being passed over.
But a huge twinge of regret at the sight of the eagle – the bird that reps the entire school, that rules over all the mascots, with a real costume head – that was a bird! And a half!
I wanted to be the eagle… didn’t everybody?
Maybe next year…
The ceremony began. Each class was introduced, and a balloon popped with their sorted color; John was part of purple, though he’d wanted to be yellow.
Maybe next school…
Once the sorting concluded, each house sang their house song; I think it was their house songs, it might have been the pro-Palestine thing that seems so popular with kids today, though.
We had a moment with the purple house’s new hope for the future, then headed for Costco.
What better way to deal with owl/eagle regret than a Costco hot dog?
The weekend of child-care proceeded normally: A Krispy Kreme run, Friday pizza/movie night, 2 beers at 5.
Which felt earned.
Their parents arrive home later today. Hopefully.
And on our drive home, I will optimistically consider the future, my normal reaction after grandchildren time.
The boys being raised ‘correctly’, “Right proper young men”, as the old guy on the corner says.
And the school seemed to be doing a great job of making them feel proud, like they belonged, and educating them.
Much is being written about kids today (Shakes fist optimistically! Twice!), and they being the generation that finally ends the world (by the 28th consecutive generation).
But I’m confident they’ll figure things out… and make things better.
Whoooooo’s with me?
ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR WITH THE FOLLOWING ‘AGING HIPSTER MUSIC/READING’:
New Dinosaur Jr. album now out, and it’s what you’d expect. J Mascis a fine guitar player, but I’m a Lou Barlow man myself. Loved the old Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh and Folk Implosion stuff by him. A true new music luminary.
And Love Is Not Enough still available on Amazon. What a great read for anyone who has dealt with mental health or addiction issues. Or just wants to read about family love and recovery.
This post is adorable, Jimmy Pete!!