“Quand on voyage dans ce livre-ci, le plaisir d’apprendre fait ricochet”

(“When we travel in this book, the pleasure of learning ricochets.”)

Each week in the fifth grade team room of Washington Elementary, we took a Spelling Trip. Without our knowledge or permission, we were learning — spelling, geography, grammar, even math — as we created stories of voyages around the world. There was an excitement to the learning, not seemingly present in our other lessons. Even before Miss Green asked who wanted to read their story first, hands shot up across the room — one arm lifted by the other, as if the height indicated the actual height of enthusiasm, not to be outdone by the verbal ooooohs and aaaahs that did indeed ricochet throughout the room.

I suppose the best teachers do this — create a lifelong voyage of learning — with a ticket that never expires.

Tucked securely in my pocket, I would take this ticket to my first meeting with a publisher. I didn’t have a manuscript for a book, or even a plan really, but I had a meeting, and a ticket. He wanted to hear something that I had written. I read to him, “a door in the forest.” When I finished, he raised his hands in the air and said, “You just took me on a trip!” I smiled and thanked Miss Green in silent cheers. He published my first book that year, “I am Amazed.”

I’m reminded of it all this morning, reading the quote on the back of a VanGogh book. From Washington Elementary, to the south of France, it is all a voyage of learning. A series of ricocheting ooohs and aaahs. I pat the still-pocketed ticket and begin today’s journey. I’m on my way.