STRANGERS STORIES

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This summer I have worked as a tennis camp counselor. Today, I had a particularly notable conversation with one of the campers. The 6 year old told me all about the trials and tribulations of his complicated existence. He explained the busy schedule of his summer and how excited he was to eat popcorn later that night. He retold a story about his grandma jumping 8 feet in the air after he had scared her. He then preceded to go into great detail about the time his dad let him drive a golf cart and how he didn't crash it. And as Graham continued to sporadically list off random life events I looked into his eyes and realized they were filled with wonder. When do we stop looking at the world the way kids do? Here you have this child, speaking about popcorn like he just won a million dollars. As I sat there and listened to Graham, I realized the authentic magic of children. They look at the world wide eyed and grinning. To them, going to the grocery store is an adventure. The level of impact adults can have on the memories children hold dear is unmatched. Graham went on and on and on. He talked I listened. I don't think we look at the perspective children have on the world enough. Their imaginations and exaggerations are unmatched. Because of Graham I now try to look at the world with a bit more sparkle and wonder in my eye.