I was only 7 years old. But I remember that day as vividly, today as I did that cool September morning many years ago. It was my first day at school. I remember my mother dressing me in the refinery of those times-knickers, long stockings and patent leather shoes so bright that I could see my reflection on its shiny surface.

My mother was always quoting some words of wisdom, so I wasn't too surprised as her first words to my that morning, in her heavy Yiddish accent were: "Joey dear, I vant you to remember this day as long as you live. You vill do many things in your life. You vill go to college, mebbe. You vill earn a living, and mebbe you vill get married, who knows. Mebbe you vill raise a family. Yah, you vill do many things in your life, but your first day at school vill happen just vonce while the others could happen many times.

Of course these words of wisdom didn't mean a thing to me at the time, and I'm having some sort of difficulty trying to figure out its significance today. However, there were many things on my mind that day as my mother took me by the hand and we started walking the two miles to my part time home which was what I later called the school. As far as I was concerned, thing they called school was a nuisance. I felt as a 7-year-old would feel. I felt annoyance that I couldn't play with my friends this beautiful morning. I was annoyed that I had to get up from my warm bed at 6:30 in the morning because my mother was afraid that we may be late for my first day at school which starts at 9:00am.

We arrived at my new school about 45 minutes before class was to start, but my mother in her usual words of wisdom said, "remember Joey darling, the early birds gets the vorm" I could never figure out what a worm had to do with being early. But apparently, most of the other mothers felt as my mother did because many of the new students and their parents were at the school before we got there.

My feelings of annoyance soon gave way to amazement and interest as I first met my new teacher and immediately liked her. I was pleased when I first found out that many of the new students had the same interests as I did. I was more than happy when during recess; I could play with my newly acquired friends, just the same as if I didn't go to school. But most amazing was when I fell in love with the girl, with long pigtails, sitting just in front of me. I knew that she liked me too, because when I pulled her hair, she turned around and smiled at me.

I shall always remember my part-time home, which what it truly was, a home away from home. I shall never forget my first day at school, the memories, which I shall always cherish, and the friends that I acquired, a few of whom I still keep in touch with after all these years. My only regret is that the girl I fell in love with, fell in love with another boy, and eventually, we lost track of each other throughout the years. I wonder what happened to her?

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