I initially surpassed this moment of whimsy earlier in the week. However, I was finally able to gather my thoughts in a way made this story as meaningful as the moment I had witnessed. 

On Saturdays, I like to go take a walk or a run. Fresh air is a beautiful thing. Lately, I have been walking short distances due to the chilly air. On this particular Saturday I was meeting my brother mid-morning for coffee, lesson planning and a life chat. I passed a few cars and then my eye caught a dad who was bent down in front of Contellation Coffee with his son and a fluffy dog. As I walked around them, I noticed that the dad was eye level with his son explaining exactly what he wanted his son to do when he got  to the counter. I heard his words:  "You are going to take this twenty dollar bill and bring it up to the counter and ask for a small coffee. Don't forget to count the change and carry the coffee slowly....." His voice trailed off. 

Sometimes, in the movies, the individual who is passing by turns around to look one last time at the situation he or she is leaving behind. I'm glad I turned. I was left with the image of this dad hugging his son, patting him on the head and giving him the push he needed towards the door of the coffee shop. The boy was probably around seven years old, and he looked quite thrilled to be embarking on such a trust-filled journey. 

I say it all the time in my classroom, but moments of whimsy are sometimes the unexpected teachable moments. And they require follow-through and mentoring. I'm sure the dad was thinking:  "Well I cannot take the dog inside the coffee shop. I cannot leave my son outside in the cold with the dog. Therefore, my son is going to learn how to purchase something and count the change on his own." 

What truly spoke to me was the whimsy this father had to stop in the cold, give directions and follow through instead of saying "I"ll just do it" or "maybe later." Sometimes we need a push. Sometimes a whimsical experience is one that we cannot do without some guidance and sometimes that guidance requires a step of faith in the hands of a mentor. Keep that in mind the next time you hesitate when giving a small push in the direction of Whimsy.