I don’t even drink coffee.

But, before the day is over, I probably will be having it fed to me intravenously.

We got the Twinkle invitations done, all 600 of them.  At one point, when I was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed, my ex-boyfriend called for our weekly chat about why our relationship didn’t work out to say hello.  When I told him what I was doing, he asked if I wanted him to come over to the office to help.

I am ashamed to admit that I said yes.  And even more ashamed to admit that, when he arrived, I introduced him to Starlite’s new volunteers as “This is C, my ex-boyfriend.”

The shame is still stinging, interlings.  But it was all for the children.

So, between our volunteers and my ex-boyfriend, we completed most of what was on our to-do list.  We’ve still got to find someone willing to deal with the processed nacho cheese do a few more things, but I think we’ll get it done.

I mean, do we really have another option at this point?

So, in just a few hours, Sparkle (our program for middle school girls) begins.  We have three schools with programs today.  For those of you who are really weird like math, allow me to present today in equation form for you:

3 middle schools full of girls + first day of Sparkle x nachos = v. loud screaming

I am, of course, thrilled about today.  No, really.  I’m serious.  I think.

 I always have mixed emotions on the first day of programs.  Sparkle is currently our most successful offering, though I predict that Twinkle (our program for elementary school girls) will trump it when it begins again this coming Monday.   Even though Sparkle has been our most successful program for three years running, I always have this small worry that we’re going to walk into those school cafeterias to find no middle school girls waiting. 

Case in point: I remember the first day we started Sparkle at a new middle school in town.  As we drove up to the school, I looked over at Christan (one of my college roomies and the first Sparkle director ever) and said “There will be no girls waiting in that cafeteria.  Just wait and see.”

She, of course, replied “You always say that.  You’re always wrong.  Just wait and see.”

Sure enough, we walked in to find 198 girls waiting for us. 

So, I’m going to take a deep breath and believe that, as always, there will be a bunch of girls waiting for us at each of these schools this afternoon.

And, I’m going to pray that we bring enough cheese.  Because the only thing that frightens me more than having no girls show up is realizing that we didn’t lug enough cheese along with us.

 Because I think we all know that no middle school girl should ever have to eat tortilla chips without plenty of disgusting delicious cheese to dip them in.  As long as I am alive, I will work towards the goal of providing free processed nacho cheese to every young girl I meet.

Amen.