Wednesday, August 17, 2011

School Days


I went to Staples a while back to get a new ink eraser. You know the kind that's like a pencil and had a brush on the end, like my old one in the first picture. I also wanted one of those gum erasers. Most of the clerks didn't know what I was talking about. They don't make such things anymore. They only have one shape and kind of latex free erasers, also shown in the first picture. The old erasers would erase anything, and even make a hole in the paper if you rubbed too hard, they were radical! These new ones won't erase ANYTHING!!! Why don't they sell the old good ones anymore, can they be used as some kind of weapon??


I used to love shopping for school supplies, did you? I even loved the smells of the crayons, glue, and fresh paper, I would inhale it all as I shopped. But it's not like the old days. Anyway, I got these things for my granddaughter, who started kindergarten today. I don't know how they work, but they are fun and pretty. And the giant pencil must weigh over a pound, now that is fun! Do you have a favorite memory of school starting?



"Show me your ways, O Lord,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and my hope is in you all day long."
Psalm 25:4,5

31 comments:

George said...

I really like that giant pencil. Is that how you do the first drafts of your posts?

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Love that huge pencil... Anytime I am looking for a pencil, I need that one (so I can find it).. ha ha

I remember Blue Horse... Do you? WE had Blue Horse paper and notebooks.... That was before spiral notebooks...
Hugs,
Betsy

claire said...

hey Ginny.. during my younger schooling days, I love the smell of new erasers too.. they were so cheap then.. yes, they were good and effective too!
I love the giant pencil you are holding! hahaa... very cute!

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

Now that is a ginormous pencil, I would like to see the sharpener that you have to get for it, that must be a doozie.

I do remember shopping for school supplies and the smells. But sadly, have you noticed crayons are not the same, too waxy now and not enough pigment.

I have never heard of gum erasers, I am pretty sure I know what they are if I were to see them.

I remember my first day of kindergarten to this very day. I can tell you what I wore and where I sat, right by the front door looking out to see the family car. On the 3rd day I finally got use to the class and mom did not have to wait the 3 hours in the car. Those memories are so vivid...but what I did yesterday?? Nadda....

May she have a wonderful day school year full of learning, laughter, friends and fun.

SquirrelQueen said...

That giant pencil looks like fun but with it weighing so much the letters would probably be short.

I always loved going shopping for back to school supplies. All the new pencils, notebooks, crayons and goodies. I remember the gum erasers, you're right, those things would erase anything.

Hootin Anni said...

Hi! Nice meeting you...I came here from Squirrel Queen's comments, and enjoyed reading about memories of buying school supplies. Oh yes, I looked forward to it. In fact, I was probably the only one in my family that ENJOYED school altogether.


And I love the photo just below this post...it's a darling creature!!

HOT TOWN SUMMER IN THE CITY is my link for Thursday's Themesong.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

What a funny pencil!

I saw the old erasers somewhere not too long ago - wonder where?

From the Kitchen said...

I think children have computers from first grade on. They don't have to erase--just delete!! I saw one of those gum erasers a few years back at Paper Source. It was $7!!!! My fondest school supply memory is a frivolous "rainbow" tablet. It had many more colors of paper than the rainbow but I loved it. It disappeared from my desk after a few days and I still wonder who took it. I have my suspicions! Hope both your little girls have a good school year.

Best,
Bonnie

Anonymous said...

Hi Ginny, As a pupil, I started elementary school as a barely five-year old in the First Grade classroom. As a teacher, I loved the start of school - except for days when I had a crying six-year old First Grade pupil. Those types of kids were so emotional and were hard to get to know. Eventually all smoothed over and we became a cohesive team. Have a great day! I hope your granddaughter enjoys her supplies - very nice!

LC said...

Ginny, I shared your love of the sight, feel and smell of new school supplies. It was the scent of new beginnings . . . pure excitement and joy with a little trepidation mixed in. And those supplies usually stayed with us all year.

Chatty Crone said...

Her first day of school - congratulations to her and may her school times be great.

I know they just don't make things like they used too.

And the older they get the more money it cost - it cost the Daughter
over a hundred dollars this year.

Rose said...

You would sure get your exercise using that pencil!

MadSnapper said...

i googled and can find place that shows WHY they are latex free, but it seems that is a selling point on all websites. strange to me. i did find there are still a few that are not latex free. below is a list in case you want to find one.

i am with betsy, easy to find that pencil. the only fond memorory of school i have is my first 3 years granddaddy took me shopping for 5 dresses and socks and shoes and underwear. he died when i was 8 and that stopped.

All eraser products are latex-free EXCEPT Arrowhead Cap Erasers, Design Kneaded Rubber Eraser, Union Eraser, Pink Pearl Eraser, Pink Pet, Paper Mate Eraser Mate, Paper Mate Eraser Max

Joanne said...

I was bullied in school in my early years and so the thought of school starting again would make me have such anxiety I could not sleep, but getting new clothes was always great and the smell of marble books and a fresh box of crayons still to this day make me inhale deeply.
P.S. Did you get a huge pencil box for that pencil!? LOL
Blessings, Joanne

Stephanie V said...

Now a White Pearl eraser is just wrong. Everyone knows those erasers are pink! I'm sure that latex-free could be accomplished in pink as well. Nice to know that some things don't change.

Arti said...

Oh! The good old school days, the best times of my life...
Always loved going to school and yes shopping for things before the new term began was always fun!!
Have a beautiful day Ginny:)

Melanie said...

That is a huge pencil!! :)
I always enjoyed back-to-school shopping.
I hope your granddaughter will have a wonderful school year.

Fred Alton said...

Ginny, where did you find Goliath's pencil? WoW - "like the shaft of a weaver's beam" ☺ Yes, I remember the excitement of going back to school after summer vacation!!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Never mind the memories,I still have to restrain myself from buying new school supplies.I just don't need them anymore,but I love the look and feel of the new books and pens.Maybe I will go get a new notebook,just for fun. :)

Reena said...

Love your post today Ginny! And you are right, not the same any more! It seems to be all about how it looks vs. function! Give me back those ole days!

Bobbie said...

Hi Ginny! My favorite memory of school starting (for me) was new shoes and that new shoe smell and 3 new dresses. Of course, that was back in the day when we had to wear dresses to school. Now when my kids were going to school, my memories weren't that 'good' because I missed them terribly when they went back. But then peace and quiet.. ahhh. You're right. Those erasers were different back then. What's up with that? Everything was better back then.

Doris Sturm said...

You're so funny - glue inhalor!!!

(just kidding!) I guess if you want really good erasers, you'll have to go to an arts and crafts place, like maybe Michaels or Hobby Lobby where they have the colored pencils, calligraphy sets and all the paints...there you can get the good ones that will also cost you a good deal more money!

I guess they stopped making products that worked so that you can't hold on to them forever and have to keep running out to the store to buy more or new or something else- everything's getting cheap and flimsy, like the shopping bags...we are just a flimsy, cheap throw-away-society anymore.

Very sad indeed!

DawnTreader said...

I too still get that urge to buy "school stuff" this time of year even when I don't really need anything... ;)

aspiritofsimplicity said...

I loved shopping for school supplies. My youngest two daughters used to love it as well. This is the first year in forever that I have had no children going back to school...unless you count college, which I don't . So, I plan to stay away from back to school shopping and enjoy it.

LV said...

Nice feature on your school supplies. No, I do not miss the starting of school anymore. Time takes care of a lot things.

S. Etole said...

I still like to browse through the notebooks and pens.

Glenda said...

Ginny, I loved getting a new box of colors . . . usually just a box of 24, but a few times I got a box of 48! I felt so rich and carefully used them, not wanting to break any of them. I remember the tablets of "rough" paper the school gave us, and bottles of paste. Good memories!

Karin said...

Oh, my, those are great school memories! Before there were pencil sharpeners my dad used to use his little knife to sharpen all our pencils! I do remember those white art erasers - as well as the ones that tore a hole in your paper! Wow, have times ever changed! That's a goliath pencil alright! Love that Scripture and will use it for my September vignette at work! Wish I had a pencil like that I could put with it.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

We did not shop too much for school supplies but I liked school

Deborah said...

OH MY GOODNESS!!! Your pencil is a riot!! I use to LOVE shopping for school supplies and I still would, but my sixteen year old is too cool for new stuff! LOL
Have a nice day!
xxoo
Deborah

Ann said...

they don't make those anymore? so many things we grew up with are now on their way out, it's sad.
I've always loved office supply stores. I don't know why exactly. I just do. Love that big pencil.
congrats to your granddaughter on her first day of school

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