Arrived in SF this morning, and while riding the local bus, who should happen to board but the entire 5th grade class from my former grammar school. The uniforms were still the same - with all the boys still wearing neckties.

I told their teacher that I was an alum, so she had a couple of the kids demonstrate their French skills for me.

Turns out that I can speak French like a 5th grader too.

It was a really pleasant surprise, because I really loved that school. The kids were all perfectly behaved (something you don't see much anymore) and did as they were asked. I don't know how they do it, but they really seem to do a great job with the kids. In the 31 yrs since I graduated, not much seems to have changed. That could have been my 5th grade class in terms of dress and demeanor.

Put a smile on my face. This is a big city, and schoolkids don't tend to use public transport around town during school hours. They must have been coming back from the symphony judging by where they got on the bus. What a wild coincidence.