pinch

I'm not in love with crickets. When we moved into this house there were a few that liked to 

come out in the evening to visit. They remind me too much of tiny frogs 

with their jumping here and there and the "startle factor."

I digress for a moment. We may live a pretty bland life because 

I have a lot of "pinch myself"--"I can't believe I'm here" moments. 

Like … standing in the Blue Mosque in Istanbul or sitting along the Mediterranean … 

Walking in a Kenyan tea farm ...Wishing for sunglasses while standing 

on top of the Eiffel Tower at 10 pm on a July evening … 

Walking through Anne Boleyn's house where Henry VIII used to come 

courting …  They all sound a bit exotic when lumped together.

But none more "pinchable" than this:

A favorite memory shines out from our years of homeschooling, 

now 25 years ago. I really loved reading chapter books to our boys, 

and a favorite is "A Cricket in Times Square." It seemed the entire time 

we read it, we had a tiny houseguest in the living room. 

He'd play his violin energetically, especially in the evening. 

He may have been named Chester, and we thought it was pretty cool how 

he timed his stay with our reading of the book.

Back to the present day. I've started volunteering at Little One's

 2nd grade class and am thoroughly enjoying it. 

The teacher is reading them "A Cricket in Times Square."

When the light goes off in the classroom, the teacher needs 

the students' attention immediately.

The first day I was there the lights flashed off.

"Come class quickly, it seems a cricket has come to visit our class."

The kids gathered around. Maybe it was Chester's grandchild.

A little history repeating itself.

For me, the sweetest "pinch myself" moment.