When I was in elementary school, choosing what to wear on the first day of school was always a big deal. It usually involved a lot of thought, planning, and a special trip with Mom to the young man’s section of Mervyn’s. The new freshly purchased clothes would be specially laid aside the night before. Morning would arrive, and the new clothing would be gathered and worn. A photograph on the front porch was mandatory to commemorate the illustrious occasion.

Somewhere around the time I was in junior high school (and after my parents had their third and fourth child), the first day of school magic seemed to lose it’s luster. Apparently you can only fill so many family photo albums with pictures on the front porch before the whole thing starts to feel stale.