Remember the days when you were anxiously awaiting the first day of school.  You couldn’t wait to go to the store and purchase your elementary school supplies.  You looked at the list with eager anticipation.   You were so full of hope of the things you might learn that year.  You always seemed to feel so special with your elementary school supplies in tow.  The list always included scissors, glue, markers and “Big Chief Tablet”.  Then there were the optional items such as Kleenex.  It always made me wonder, if we went through that many boxes of tissue in one school year, or the teacher and some serious sinus problems.  You always had to compare the items you brought to school to make sure that they were cool enough, but not too different to draw attention to yourself.  Everyone wants to feel special, but not different.These days, many schools have gotten smart and combine school supplies with elementary school fundraising. They work with a company that will provide all the needed supplies and the schools offers a complete school supplies package as a school fundraiser.But not all schools do that which leaves families searching for their supplies.Going to the grocery store with your mom to purchase your elementary school supplies was always exciting.  You could spend hours trying to determine if you had the correct spiral notebook, or if you got the right shade of crayons.  The school supply aisle was always crowded and you usually found a friend or two there doing the same thing you were.  You knew that soon sleeping late was going to be limited to Saturdays and Sundays.  It made me feel grown up when I went from the wide ruled paper to regular notebook paper.  I didn’t feel like such a kid anymore.  I always wanted to get off on the right foot at school and I thought that having just the right supplies would put me one step closer to an A.  Things were a bit different in middle school and high school when the cool thing was to come to school so unprepared.  You wanted to look like you were having so much fun doing other things that you forgot to get ready for school.  When you are young, you can’t wait for summer because that meant many, many days of sleeping in and no homework.  It didn’t take long to realize that you really missed your friends and you actually missed school.Once that elementary school supplies list gets published, you are only a few short weeks from seeing your friends again.  You can all compare notes about what everyone did over the summer, and before long, you will be ready for summer again.