3-2-1...Contacts!

I got contacts today! Hooray!

I only have 20/30 vision and am nearsighted but it is enough to be annoying when I drive at night, go to the movies or want to try and focus in on things far away (aisle signs at the store, street signs, mountain tops, etc.) so I have glasses but don't necessary need to wear them all the time.

Well, as part of my birthday gift from Kent I got contacts for my birthday. I was very excited and counldn't wait. (We decided to go early since Kent III broke the only pair of glasses I currently have and like I said, not being able to see can get annoying sometimes.) I got through all the eye exam stuff just fine (no brain tumors :) and even though I hadn't had an eye exam in 5 years, my prescription hadn't changed) and then it was time for the technician to teach me how to put in my contacts. He showed me what to do and then let me try it out for myself. After only one try I was able to get my right contact in but my left contact took several tries. The technician seemed amazed. He asked me if I had ever had contacts before, I told him no. After that he asked, "Are you sure you have never had contacts?" several times. I did tell him I had a friend in High School who let me wear one of her contacts once (thanks again Steph!) but that I had never worn contacts beyond that. He didn't even have to give me any instructions for taking them out either, I knew how and got them out on the first try. He said he was utterly impressed at how good I was at putting in and taking out contacts and that of all the people he had ever taught, I had been able to put them in and take then out the fastest he had ever seen.

Although he was impressed with what seemed to be a hidden talent, I didn't find it necessary to tell him that during High School I was absolutely fascinated with watching my friends who had contacts put them in and take them out. (Thanks again for being so very patient with me all those years Steph and Meredith!) I am sure watching my friends like a hawk gave me a little bit of an edge on knowing what to do when I finally got contacts. :)

I am very excited and thrilled to have contacts! Thank you so much for the wonderful gift Kent!!

While waiting for my little contact class a woman in the waiting room said, "So are all these kids yours Cynthia?" I must admit it took me a few minutes to recognize who she was but when I did, I had to physically think about keeping a smile on my face and not letting my jaw hit the ground.

It was Kristina White.

For those of you that didn't grow up with me, Kristina was the bully of my Junior High school years. I can't tell you the number of times she tripped me, knocked my books out of my hands or her and her friends called me names. We even had to get the Counselor's and Principal involved several times. To this day I still have no idea why she singled me out to torment me all those years growing up.

And now, here she was, standing in front of me at America's Best smiling and asking about my life. I have to say, I am proud of myself, I smiled back and talked to her without any annimosity or guile. We joked around and I even felt real regret when she told me she was getting divorced. I even was able to share a few sound words of advice I found helpful during my divorce.

I was shocked to get to see her but grateful that life had taught me lessons of forgiveness and letting go. I am grateful that I did not allow her actions so many years ago to taint my view of life and sour the years since. I am grateful that I didn't harbor any ill feelings toward her so if and when the time came when I saw her again, there would not be any ghosts circling. I am grateful that while I talked to her, I stayed strong in the woman I am now and didn't revert back to the scared girl I was then. And most of all, I am grateful that I didn't keep the promise of my teenage self which was that if I ever saw her again I would smack her. :)

Today was also Savannah's first day of school. I can't believe she is old enough to go to Junior High! (And when did I get old enough to have a child in Junior High?!) The Junior High has kind of an orientation day for all the 7th graders where they basically get the school to themselves to find their classes and have a welcome assembly. (Next Monday the 7th graders stay home while the 8th and 9th graders start school and then on Tuesday the 7th, 8th and 9th graders all go together.) She will also have A and B days so that is going to be a fun change for her too.

I didn't get to see her off to school this morning but she came home after school. She was a little scared and got a little teary eyed when she was dropped off at school but for the most part was excited to be in Junior High.

The worst part for Savannah was lunch. She got in line to get her food but then got out because she saw people holding papers they got when they registered for school and seemed to be using them to access their lunch account. Then she got back in line because some of the kids didn't have those papers. Then she got back out of line because she realized they had their papers to look up their ID# and she didn't know her ID#. Then she went to her locker to see if she had copies of the papers in her binder. She didn't. Then she went back to the lunchroom and realized her ID# was on her school ID card so got back in line. By that time she only had 10 minutes to eat her lunch. Poor girl!

She really likes all her teachers and especially enjoyed the welcome assembly and thought the student council's skits were funny. There was even a girl from the student council that came and talked to her for a few minutes while she was eating lunch so she appreciated that (especially after the crazy lunch she had). She thinks she would like to try to be on the student council next year; we'll see if that goes anywhere.

She is excited to learn the viola for orchestra, isn't looking forward to showering in gym and thinks her English teacher is hilarious.

All in all a crazy, fun, exciting, nerve racking first day for her. But life wouldn't be nearly as much fun as it is if it always went smoothly, right? :) I am excited for her and this new year of school for the changes and chances to grow it will bring her. I hate to see my baby grow up but there are so many wonderful things on the horizon I can't help but look forward to them with her!