Back to the Oven
My Facebook feed has been full of kids preparing to go back to school or already headed back to school. That, combined with the late onset of full-blown summer, got me to thinking back on my school days.
I started first grade in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1967. Now, I understand some folks around here get confused about the location of South Carolina and think it is up north somewhere. I know this because people regularly ask me if my parents get much snow. Let me set the record straight by saying South Carolina is in the Deep South, and Charleston is on the Atlantic coast, just a tad northeast of the Florida state line. The reason for this geography lesson is that I want you to understand that Charleston is really, really hot in August and September—nearly as hot as San Saba—and really, really humid, too. Back in 1967, none of the school buildings had air conditioning.
I was a kid of six years old, so the lack of air conditioning was not much of an issue for me. We had windows all down the side of the classroom, and I think we must have had fans. I remember being hot, and I am certain all those hot little kids smelled bad by midday. But I have no recollection of feeling like I was melting nor of anyone actually having heat-related problems. What amazes me thinking back on it was that our teachers survived that heat and all those hot kids.
My first grade teacher was a skinny little old lady who I remember occasionally wore mini-skirts and boots, even at her advanced age. I am sure she had an easier time with the heat. My second-grade teacher, on the other hand, was an older, grey-haired, matronly lady who carried quite a bit more weight. Her name was Mrs. Carter, and she was one of the sweetest ladies I have ever known. Back in those days, teachers wore dresses or skirts with stockings or hose every day. More than likely they all wore girdles, too, as it was not ladylike to jiggle at all, and you need something to attach your stockings to as pantyhose did not really catch on for another few years. Not only did the teachers have to wear all those hot clothes, but the mid-sixties were the days of teased, fixed, and hair-sprayed hairdos. How was Mrs. Carter so sweet to us under those circumstances? I would not have been able to do it.
One Picture Day my mother teased me up a little bump at the front of my head and sprayed it thoroughly. She told me I had better make sure to keep it looking that way for my pictures. I was terrified that I would smoosh the bump somehow. I remember going in the girl’s bathroom and checking it in the mirror. I remember seeing the beads of sweat on my forehead and upper lip and wishing my turn at pictures would hurry up before the bump fell flat. In the end, I was successful, and I still have the picture to prove it. That one day was miserable for me, and I did not even have a girdle and stockings on! Can you imagine if we had to go back to that?
Happy Back-to-School everybody! I hope this year is completely normal and is all smooth sailing. I will be here telling myself that I absolutely do not need another pack of new pencils or notebook paper! SpringCreekArtsGuild@gmail.com