Last Day of Preschool

Lilly really only has tomorrow, one last day, of preschool. The next day is her graduation, so that doesn't really count as a play day. Today when we were leaving, they gave her a bag of clothes that we brought in from home on the first day, like an emergency kit in case she was trapped at school or something. It had clothes, a granola bar, a pack of cheese and crackers and a water. She was so happy with this whole package, she said, "Can I try them all on? They gave me clothes!" She didn't realize they were her OWN clothes. In the car she ate the cheese and crackers, and loved that she had her own water, in the little bag. It was like she was on an airplane and having the in-flight meal. Thrilled with the whole thing. At home she changed right into the clothes, underwear, socks and all. What I love is that everything is an adventure with Lilly, who's only 4 for two more days. I feel like I missed everything, even though I've been here the whole time. A few days ago I packed her lunch for her because we were going to go to the park right after school to play with her friends, and when we were walking into school in the early morning, up the little dirt path, Lilly is clutching her lunch like a treasure chest, and she looks up at me and says "Can I do this again?" She's holding up her paper lunch bag. She wants, more than anything, just to bring her lunch to school and put it in her cubby. So she can be big, and because a few of the other kids do it. That kind of stuff makes me cry, the hugeness that can be packed into a little sandwich, some carrots and a cookie in a paper bag. I know I'm not out delivering babies or solving physics problems or teaching ivy league students. All I did was pack a little lunch for someone, and she's holding it up to me, so excited with the prospect that she could do it again, it means everything to me. And tomorrow, we're celebrating her birthday, she gets to wear a crown and have cupcakes that we made today. We'll bring them to her school. She said as she was falling asleep tonight, Will you stay there and be with me? I will light the candle.