Red Ribbon Week at school
means we have theme days every day that tie into and support the war against
drugs. Our local towns have a huge
heroin problem, and, among other things including tobacco and alcohol, we are
trying to raise the students’ awareness.
Friday is a Halloween
theme since the holiday falls on Saturday when we’re not in school. The idea is to scare drugs from our school
and our lives. I have black lip gloss,
dark eye shadow, and black Halloween-themed t-shirts.
Thursday is Put Drugs to
Bed day, and the theme is for pajamas to be worn. I don’t usually wear theme clothing on pajama
day, but I will probably break into the sweats this time around.
Wednesday’s theme is Put
Drugs in the Past, and we can dress up as our favorite decade. The last time we had a decades day, I put on
the tie-dye and the Janis Joplin glasses.
This time around, I might go for the Indian-style maxi dress, though,
but still be living in the 70’s.
Tuesday is all about
wearing school colors, green and gold, and I’ve got that one covered. I have green jeans (yes, I know that sounds
like a character from Captain Kangaroo) and several school-themed shirts to
wear, or maybe I’ll just wear a color-appropriate shirt.
Monday the theme has to do
with Teaming Up Against Drugs, and I can choose any team jersey I want to wear
to school. My first thought is to go
raid the old town lacrosse jerseys that I keep in my closet. I love those jerseys. They’re blue and gold and just the right
size. Or I can choose to wear Red Sox
gear or a Patriots jersey or a Bruins jersey.
I can raid my son’s closet and borrow any number of professional soccer
team jerseys. Heck, I think he even has
a team China basketball jersey hiding somewhere in that room.
He overhears me telling my
sister on the phone that I have to find a sports jersey for school. “Mom,” he calls down the stairs, “Wanna wear
my college lacrosse jersey? It’s the
yellow one.”
Oh. Oh my.
He knows I loved those yellow jerseys and cried a little bit when the team
gave them up for the more standard (and boring and ugly and ordinary) white
ones. Of course I want to wear that
jersey. When am I ever going to get
another offer so grand?
He brings the jersey down
and carefully hands it over. I peruse it
and quickly realize one thing: I should be holding this jersey by one finger;
this thing needs a good wash. It can
practically walk on its own.
Two hours later, the
jersey is washed, dried, and hanging up on the back of the door awaiting Theme
Day #1 for the week. It may not be the
most recognizable jersey, and it may not be a shirt of champions, but it surely
feels that way to me today, and, luckily, it won’t be walking away from me on
its own anymore.
Besides, he was the
starting goalie for much of his college career.
That jersey can deflect anything.
Knowing what kind of day I’m going to have (multiple meetings and
freshly back after taking Friday off to travel), I’ll need all the deflection
powers I can muster.
