Who Needs Television?

My wife and I were sitting in one of our favorite places; a coffee shop. This one, in Brunswick, Maine and we were tickled when we were joined for our morning caffeine fix! The two young men in the photo came into our view and we became a little concerned, at first, as we did not immediately see their parents. That concern began to draw our attention to them and to their garb. We thought it a bit odd that they were wearing unseasonably warm attire for summer. This was summer in Maine, after all, and though it is quite a bit cooler than most of the rest of our nation at this time of year, it is hardly hat and glove weather.

What began as concern quickly manifested into laughter as we finally determined that what they were wearing was a costume of sorts for characters they seemed to be portraying. Curiously and lovingly we began to investigate their humorously unseasonal appearance. It wasn't just the hat and gloves, as you can see, there is a set of goggles for both boys. We were guessing what this clothing represented by quizzically asking them whom they portrayed. We guessed construction workers, but why the hats? We guessed welders and scuba divers, but why the gloves? Every notion fell short and just didn't seem to fit.

That's when Dad appeared and kindly shared with us that they were pilots! Pilots? Yeah, you know, Flying Aces of WWII. Ohhhhh! We get it! Even more laughter surrounded us when others noticed the lightheartedness, especially when their father explained that the two boys regularly partake in imaginative costuming to learn about people, places and things! Oh My Gosh, my wife and I thought! We listened to how they also feigned SCUBA divers on the living room floor and other ingeniously creative techniques for teaching, experiencing and learning and loving two very energetic boys.

All too soon a whole shop full of people were captivated by the storytelling and the visuals of the front and center WWII Flying Aces. It was no coincidence either that their inquisitive nature led them to the children's book section of the shop. They smiled, laughed and played without any electronic devices and were as polite and well mannered as could be. They were having fun, too! Not to mention providing such poetic entertainment for all of us sipping our morning Java!

We couldn't help but positively reinforce their behavior and comment to their father who was equally delightful and open to detailing his love for his kids! Wow! And I do mean, Wow! It was so breathtaking to be a part of...really! I'll never forget it! Nor will I ever forget their dad telling us they rarely watch TV as they seem to have so much more fun using their imaginations to lead them to discovery of life!!! Dad mentioned it wasn't without work, but oh, so worth it!

If we're open and inquisitive and loving and kind, we can learn a lot in coffee houses, now can't we? If we're really lucky and we keep our minds and hearts unfettered, maybe this type of coffee shop and parental activity will catch on, eh? I hope so!

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” Albert Einstein