Color Box

Growing up I thought that the beginning of the year should be September and the end of the year should be August. I sort of stayed in that pattern until the past few years. Just as for most of us, for the better part of my life the years revolved around the school schedule. September marked the beginning of the year, first when I was in school, then when my son was in school.

Later, I became used to life revolving around the calendar year thanks to corporate reports and new vacation day buckets. The beginning of the school year now comes to my attention when Target and Wal-Mart convert the seasonal lawn and garden section to school supplies. I'm not in school and I don't have children in school, but it is still one of my favorite sections: new designs for notebooks, backpacks sporting the latest action/music heroes/heroines, packages of paper, pens and pencils.

Then there are the boxes of crayons! We made magical pictures with crayons and gave them to parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone who would take them. Now there are so many colors in the boxes that some have had to be retired to make room for the new colors. My first box of crayons was the box of 8 that were as thick as broomsticks .... or so it seemed. As the years went by the lists of required supplies showed crayons in larger color varieties ... and thinner. We knew we had really made it when Mom was able to get us the box of 24 colors --- or more!

With a studio full of paper, inks, stamps, punches.... you name it, there isn't a box of crayons to be found. But I still love the smell of a fresh box --- I think that is the prevailing odor in the school supply section. Maybe I should have a box around for those times I need a creative whiff.

This card reminds me of the colors in that very first box of crayons: bright primary and secondary colors. Maybe I should rub in some crayon scent.