Depending on the year, word can get out pretty quickly that I have a lot of ties. This was a quick year. It started when an eighth grade girl requested that I wear my M&M tie. She remembered it from last year. I wore it yesterday. It’s bright and colorful, so lots of people commented. I responded to their comments by telling them it was a request. After they asked me to explain, it would come out that I have around two hundred forty ties and that I never repeat during the course of the school year.
One sixth-grader I was talking with asked me to wear the most girly tie I own. At least I think he said girly. Do kids still say that these days? It was in the lunchroom, and things are usually pretty loud in there. I repeated the word “girly” back to him and he seemed to think I said the right thing. It was hard picking out a girly tie. What does that mean? Pink? I have a couple of those. I settled on a flowery tie. …One that is pink and orange. 
Later in the day, another sixth-grader asked me to wear my Bob the Tomato tie. He’s a younger brother, so maybe he saw it last year some time? I told him he’d have to wait until Monday. Tomorrow is a dress-down day.
I hope kids keep making requests. Because that’s fun.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind a weekly wrap-up of the ties you wore during the week. Maybe you and Lloyd could have a weekly Tie Battle! We could vote for the best/crazy/most girly/etc. tie!! Why am I so excited about this?!?
Too little sleep? Only bright spot in the day?
I’m excited too! Great idea! And maybe I could be in charge of the votes…I need some purpose in my life.
I’d like to request that you wear your most ubiquitous tie.
Would that be a brooks brother’s style diagonal stripe?
Isn’t it cool to know kids remember something about you from past year(s)? If my students recall anything from past years, it’s often things I wish they’d have forgotten (mistakes or unwise choices I’d made in some way). What a compliment to you, sir. Salute!
And congratulations on living through your first Hell Day of the year (aka Drop Day 1)! Mine will be Day 7, but I’m sort of used to that from last year, so I’ll just keep taking my Geritol and going to the gym, sleeping and eating right, and I’ll be just fine. Yea, right.