The First Day of School: Holden Village Sept. 2, 2008

Here they are, the entire faculty and student body of the Holden School. They posed here for a group picture after the village shenanigans collectively known as "The First Day of School." You will notice right away that there seems to be only one student in what you would think of as "normal" first day of school clothing. That would be young Olaf (also known as "The Mayor of Holden") who was about to attend his very first day of school...ever. The others are dressed in some sort of costume or garb of their own choosing in keeping with the celebration.

There are no rules for this event. No winners. No losers. No quantifiable point or purpose. It is just a celebration, a happening. And here is what happens. All of the students live along a gravel road leading up from the main road through the village. The school itself is at the bottom of the hill. But on the first day of school, one of the school buses normally used to pick up guests at the boat, and to take guests back to the boat, is put into service picking up students living along Chalet Hill Road. It is the first and last time students will ride the bus to school all year.

The road up the hill is a straight line up with a circular curve (a cul de sac if you will) at the top. The bus drives up the hill, stopping at each chalet where there are students. From the time the bus turns to drive up the hill, mischief-makers along the way do everything in their power to delay the inevitable arrival of the bus at the school building. The mischief-makers are the other villagers (all of them) who dress up in costumes and act out various scenarios in the road in front of the bus, at the house where the students wait, (parents get into this play-acting as well), and all along the route.

And here are the pictures to prove just how bizarre "The First Day of School" can get...no extra encouragement needed. It is a day to "do your own thing".

It's a one-arm Rolf Vegdahl (the registrar), father of 2 students who, dressed as a blue M&M, waves the bus on up the hill.

Art and Joan Neslund, dressed in HAZMAT suits, warn students of the dangers of school book dust hazards. They would repeatedly "decontaminate" the bus all the way up the hill and down.

Here the bus has made its turn onto the road leading up the hill, and Joan is there to block the way in order to make sure the bus is properly rid of "book dust" before proceeding. You will notice to the right of the bus a line of monks, complete with incense and holy water, accompanying the bus and offering blessings and protections.

To one side of the road are 5 Holden School "alums" down on their luck and offering to work for food...and strong drink...and cigarettes. Not exactly an inspiration for those young ones already on board the bus.

Speaking of inspiration! This is what was visible the first time bus driver (Nancy Restucha-Borges) opened the bus door to pick up her first passenger! She was a wild woman with her back-combed hair, her ever-present cigarette, these empty beer cans which kept falling out of the door every time it was opened, and a Cosmopolitan inside a calculus book in the front window. Never mind her surly comments to the students.

Bob and Laura Norton had a difficult time letting Maya and Nate get on the bus. Every time they moved toward the bus, Laura would screech and remember something else she had forgotten to pack in their bags...a pack of Kleenex, band aids, their jackets...you name it. Gundula Houff, wife of the Resident Pastor, but disguised as a who-knows-what, tries to take a group picture.

Dressed in togas, decorated with war paint, and armed with tree pruners and other implements of possible mayhem, these young men blocked the road and threatened the bus. Their maverick partners were soon to burst out of the makeshift fort in the background and impede the progress of the bus up the road.

Young Olaf seems to be trying to figure out if he really wants to go to this school or whether to resume his mayoral duties instead. He is with the boarding student, Inge Chiles, who is living with the Coffey family, and his brother Joseph (pointing), and his sister Grace (wrapped as a package).

Chuck and Stephanie Carpenter (dressed as a bride and groom...I don't know why) stand on their porch with their children and a young guest watching the bus make its way up the hill.

Outgoing garbologist Abby Dibble and incoming garbologist Nick Gordon are prepared to hurl beer cans at the bus when it passes by. (The garbage cans were new...to reassure you.)

Ellie Vegdahl, Nyrie Mietzke, and Jordyn Mietzke wait for the bus to make it to the top of Chalet Hill...their parents were involved in "the last camp-out of the season" blocking the road just before the Mietzke's house.

Resident Pastor, Larry Houff, here for a month while the Village Pastor is away on a brief sabbatical, seems to have lost control over himself, his hair, and his flock.

Boarding student, Andrew Dutcher, resident of Agape and decorated as a slice of Pizza is protected by his sponsor, Liz Langeland, and two other members of the Agape Security Force, Gail Johnson and Aneta Bunke.

Two of the monks continue to bless the bus as it makes its way back down the hill. Holden Director, Tom Ahlstrom, swings the censer (by now out of incense) and Pastor Nancy Winder of Faith Lutheran Church in Seattle sprinkles holy water from a "red bucket brigade" bucket (used to wipe tables in the dining hall after meals) by means of a paint brush...a used paint brush....very stiff.

Mary Coffey-now-Sather (by only a week) stops the bus from the porch of a chalet. Even though she married only a week ago, she sees to be already with child and has a couple of babies (make that triplets) in addition. Her husband, Dave, is the high school teacher and was on the first day of school apparently having trouble getting up and out the door.

Rebecca Swanson and Hannah Goldammer stop the bus on its way down Chalet Hill to offer small cups of Tang to the students.

In the time it has taken for the bus to go to the top of the hill and back, a major road construction project has begun at the foot of the hill. Passage for the bus is completely stopped.

The road construction project brings the bus to a complete halt. A piece of heavy equipment has even been brought in to block the road.

The bus finally got by the construction project but the bus driver got lost and the bus with all the students on board was driven up to what is called "the third level" on top of the tailings where they were finally able to get turned around and back down. The bus returns here with all students on board and ready for the official first day of school photo.

BUT WAIT!! There was the school lunch dished out by a spectacular crew of "lunch room ladies" in hair nets. Menu: tater tot hot dish, plain tater tots, carrots, applesauce, red jello, milk in small milk cartons...sound familiar? Very.

And a good time was had by all.