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August 21, 2004
Lunch Line
I was standing in the lunch line at whatever food service place is in/near Larch, preparing to grab a tray, when suddenly every memory of standing in a lunch line flooded back.
I remembered the lunch line that wrapped all the way around the orange and blue gym at Grace Abbott Elementary. Toe stomping abounded. Conversation usually centered around the menu. Once fourth and fifth grade rolled around, most kids were too picky to eat what the cafeteria served, and thus were bringing "cold" lunches from home in a lunch box. (I had a yellow Rainbow Bright one, complete with a Thermos.) I usually stood up for the school's "hot" lunches though, mainly because my parents didn't always have time to pack me a lunch, and it only cost $1.00 to eat what the school served. Of course, the price increased by $.10 per year, but never mind that. I liked the somewhat rubbery pancakes and the slightly chewy pizza.
Once I reached Kiewit Middle School, conversation changed to classes, teachers, and, I must admit, boys. The cafeteria happened to be right next to the gym, which provided the cherished opportunity to spot the cute gym teacher. The lunch debate evolved into which was better, chocolate or vanilla "milkshakes." If your parents gave you actual money instead of writing a check for a lunch ticket, you could purchase really good (AKA extremely unhealthy) food such as mini donuts and fruit punch.
By seventh grade, I was the favorite of my middle school band teacher. This was probably due to the fact that I respected him rather than trying to take advantage of him, and I actually wanted to play and improve instead of goof around. Thus, he set it up so that he could give another girl and I private lessons during one of his planning periods since we had orchestra during the regular band hour. (We both played violin and trumpet.) One of the tricks he tought me was to practice the chromatic scale fingering pattern on the bottom of my lunch tray. I can still play the chromatic scale at the speed of light. In fact, I'm not too shabby with scales in general.
Lunch at Millard North High School was a little different. Subway and Little Ceaser's pizza were catered in, and by then my parents were just handing me money, so I got to endulge in the more luxurious options. The line for these also happened to be shorter, and no tray was required.
Back to long lines at St. Olaf College. Coversations encompass everything under the sun, but almost always include at least one complaint about how long the line is, and consequently, how much the school sucks.
But I think, when graduation rolls around, I might miss lunch lines.
Posted by Megan at August 21, 2004 01:26 PM
Comments
Oh, don't worry, I still stand in lunch lines. The food is more expensive and immature kids are a lot older, but it's a lunch line, no doubt about it.
Posted by: Pat at August 21, 2004 03:56 PM