Atypical & Awesome “Pasta Bakes and Back to School”

There is comfort in organized chaos. I typically enjoy the crazy yet structured days of back to school. Ball games, band practice, church activities etc. have always excited me to a degree. But this year- things are different. Way different. Last night was back to school eve-a day usually filled with nervous anticipation and pseudo-dread from the kids. Packing and repacking backpacks and lunches. Sharpening pencils. Labeling things. I made pasta bakes last night- they were quite good. A special back to school eve dinner. But, things were and are different. Who knows how long the kids will even be in school this time? And I’ll be honest, I felt genuine anxiety this morning as we sent the two younger kids (a Junior and 6th grade) back into the world of school. They have been home almost five months, Five months. The two older kids had to get COVID tests today in order to be allowed to return to their college campus. Their classes are scheduled to be hybrid- mainly online with a day or two in-person instruction a week. Social gatherings have been dramatically reduced and- football, football has been moved to the end of September and whether fans will be allowed in the stadium remains to be seen. This is at the University of Alabama where Nick Saban is a bigger superstar than Mickey Mouse. What a crazy time to be alive. But, all we can do is take it one step at a time. I’m enjoying some leftover pasta bake for lunch and look forward to hearing the first day of school report from the younger two later. Who knows what tomorrow or next week will bring?