Remembering Kindergarten

This morning as I walked to the gym, I read Robert Fulghum’s “All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” I love the simple and beautiful stories. It’s my third time reading it though I hadn’t picked up the book in quite some time. Half way through, I decided to stop. I started thinking about a story I had written many years ago about my kindergarten days. I was trying to remember the story word for word, but couldn’t when all of a sudden I felt like that 5 year-old boy walking to school. It felt good to feel him again; I had a big smile on my face.

When I got home, I searched for the story. After some time, I found it. Here it is:

“I remember crying on my first day of kindergarten at Malabar. I remember my teacher Mrs. Endo giving me a puzzle and the kids gathering around to help me build the puzzle, as I was blind from tears and unable to see what I was doing. I remember smiling as we all finished the puzzle together.
I remember a girl named Elizabeth; I chased her around the sandbox and monkey bars. I remember her long-to-the-ground red and white-checkered dress. I remember getting extra cookies from Mrs. Endo.

I remember a girl named Marisela asking me for ‘un beso,’ a kiss. When I didn’t give her a kiss, I was afraid of Marisela because her older sister had long fingernails.

I remember walking to school with Carlos and Rossi; one day, the three of us wore the identical black and white-checkered pants. I remember the local corner store on our way to school. For four years, I bought many erasers from money I stole from Mama’s purse. I loved new erasers on pencils.

Once the school bell rang and everyone left to go home, I remember often waiting outside for Mama on a table with Mrs. Endo. I remember crying because I would think that Mama had forgotten about me.

I remember all this and know that I have lived many years and I have experienced many different things.
As I write, I remember all this and know that today will maybe become a memory. I may or may not remember this moment. I know that today is all I have. Today is my moment to experience life, to share, to laugh, to cry, to give thanks, to express myself, to create, and to love. (The list is endless.) With every breath, today passes me by. And so I remember that today is my day.”

The piece here is titled “Blanca Graduates Kindergarten.” A photo of my younger sister Blanca inspires it.

In honor of the kid in all of us. Remember!