I can't remember any further back than what I can recall from that infinitely expansive and gravel playground at Wesley Preschool. Every day on that playground felt so novel, like every day I was a Spanish explorer discovering some uncharted territory. I recall a sort of large, red plaything that looked like a barn. I kissed Anna Zukowski on the cheek up there. She was my first girlfriend, but then I met Karen Sealy. I remember my teacher Ms. Trueblood, and the principal Ms. Rippy.
A typical day would involve me waking up around 8 or 9, and my Mom would have a sippy cup of hot chocolate ready for me, every morning, without fail. I would then go downstairs to our family room, sit on the floor in front of the TV indian-style with my blanket, and proceed to watch Nick Jr. for some time. My favorite shows were Mr. Wizard, Blue's Clues, Eureka's Castle and some freaky show about a Pollywog named Binya Binya.
Then, I remember Kindergarten. I was in "Oretel PM," meaning I had Mrs. Oretel and I went to school at noon. I went to Our Lady of Good Counsel school in Vienna, and stayed there until 8th grade. The same people I made friends with on that first day of kindergarten are some of the same people I hung out with last night. We have a long and storied history at OLGC, replete with all sorts of strange occurences (a border collie wandered into Mass one time) and hilarious adolescent antics (two friends and I leap-frog'd the mile one time; Mrs. Tillett was most displeased).
I remember having particular difficulties learning how to tie my shoe in Kindergarten. My teacher had this sort of kid-friendly and colorful clipboard with shoelaces on it, so as to make the nerve-racking process of having to tie the damn shoelaces in front of our teacher more palatable. I couldn't do it, and I specifically remember that stinging feeling of failure. I sulked home to my Dad, and that Friday night we stayed up til 10 pm (super late!!!) until I learned how to do it.
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