I vividly remember what it was like to go back to school after summer vacation (or any extended time away). It was a mess of emotions; a layer-cake of fear, excitement, nervousness, and anxiety all topped with hope. It didn't help that I was a kid who would get homesick at the thought of being away from home. I can remember many first days back when all I wanted was to be back home; I am fairly certain that I even walked home and hid in our hall closet one time, but maybe this is just what I'd only dreamed about doing. Thankfully, the homesick feeling lessened with each passing year; had it not, I could have developed a huge problem with skipping the "first day back" once I was able to drive myself to school. The small break I took from this recipe (during my early twenties, and during the twins' birth to five years stage) didn't serve to dull my memory... or taste buds.
