March 2025 SOLC–Day 18
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Spirit Week used to be less frequent and I liked it more. Somehow it’s become a regular feature in our school calendar and like Ebeneezer, I sometimes want to say “Bah Humbug!” The kids, of course, love it and these days, it’s actually the Middle School Student Council who comes up with each plan.

Monday was easy as it was Green Day in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Today, Tuesday was Dress up like a Teacher Day. 

On Monday afternoon, R. was eyeing me oddly as we headed out to wait for the buses. 

“What’s up?” I asked.

“I’m going to be you tomorrow,” she announced.

“You are?” I asked.

“Yup,” she said, “I’m gonna straighten my hair and wear glasses. Oh, and I’m going to keep these dangly earrings in.”

“Well, I do love dangly earrings,” I replied, touching my finger to the ones I’d worn that day. 

“Or maybe I’ll wear hoops instead.”

“You know,” I said, “I don’t think I ever wear hoops. I might not even own a pair. The ones you have in now are pretty fun and dangly though.”

“Yup,” she continued, ignoring my contribution, “I’ll probably wear hoops.” 

We continued our walk down the hallway.

“Oh, and Mrs. Hogan?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you wear bras?”

(That sound you just heard was the echo of my jaw hitting the ground…from yesterday.)

“What?!” I asked, then continued, “R., that is not an appropriate question to ask someone.” 

She giggled. 

Another student piped up, “You know that inappropriate word that R. just used?”

I hastened to clarify, “It’s not an inappropriate word, it’s just not an appropriate question.”

“Well,” she said, blithely continuing, “I just call them spaghetti straps.”

Thankfully, by this time we’d reached the doors and I shooed both of them out toward the buses, my head still spinning. 

Today R skipped into class. Her hair was straightened. She was wearing big hoops (no big surprise!) and she had on a pair of lens-less glasses. She wore leggings and a turtleneck, which, let me assure you, is not my look.

“I’m a mini you!” she announced.

“Wow! You sure are,” I responded. 

Let me note for the record that I did not ask if she was wearing a bra!