my son started preschool last week. while W and i drove him to school for his first day, i had major butterflies in my stomach. i really didn't want to cry. kids sense things. and i didn't want him to think this was a sad day, i wanted him to be excited and happy and look forward to learning and making new friends. but i couldn't help but remember when i first started preschool (or nursery school as we called way back then). i have very vivid memories of my dad dropping me off at nursery school on his way to work, i was probably 3 1/2 years old. he worked really early, and it would still be dark out, and since it was so early, i was one of the first kids there. but there was always another girl there, i want to say her name was cory. she was tall and skinny, with short dark hair and bangs, and always had a red nose. she reminded me of olive oyl (popeye's girl). and she always smelled like fruit loops. but what i really remember is that feeling of "why is my daddy leaving me here with these ppl?!" i would cry and cry and hold onto his pant legs, and not want him to leave. i'm sure this made it hard for him, but at the time, all i knew was that he was leaving me! but of course he always came to get me after work. but it was this girl cory that became my first friend here, and made the whole experience much easier. i wish i could find her and see what she's like now. i bet she's still tall and skinny. and she has tall and skinny kids. and i hope she doesn't still smell like fruit loops.