The beginning of a new school year

The dreams in August tell me that school is just around the corner. When I start to dream about colleagues then I know that it is time to turn my mindset to thoughts of school! And it is a regular as clockwork; a colleague, in the beginning of my teaching career, told me that such dreams would happen and he is right on the money - here comes September, here come the dreams!
The faculty and staff started back last week. Some of us have shown up over the summer for various reasons but last week is the formal beginning of the academic year.
This is my fourth year at Ramsey and I was delighted to see remembered colleagues and to meet the new staff. Monday was devoted to school business and to organizing from summer school and trying to see if we could get as much of the technology each teacher needed as close as possible to where he or she might need it!
My "techie" from past years has been deployed within a matter of almost days (he was gone within three weeks!). Fortunately I had no idea of how much I would miss him both professionally and personally. His replacement is a complete jewel, we are very fortunate to have him. He is all that you would ask of a new hire and then some so we are very lucky in that regard! One of the fall-outs from having my friend gone is that I am much more aware of others in their desert fatigues and I do not hesitate for an instant to express my gratitude to each and every one of them - I did not do that before.
I expect to be at school tomorrow morning around 6:30 - it's an early start but I doubt I will sleep well tonight; I wonder if the students know I am as anxious to start the new year as they might be?