An Idea Went By
An Idea Went By
By George Lee — As Lived
When I was a kid, one of my favorite books was A Fly Went By by P.D. Eastman.
It was simple.
A fly goes by… and one thing leads to another.
A frog, a cat, a dog — and suddenly everything is in motion.
I loved it because it was easy to read.
But more than that, I think I loved it because my mind worked that way.
One small thing… and off I’d go.
I wasn’t much of a reader back then.
But I could follow a thought as it moved.
Years later, I read that same book to my kids.
They loved it too.
So I guess it stayed with me.
Recently, I’ve started to notice something.
Every once in a while, something passes through my mind — and if I catch it, it turns into a short piece of writing.
A few of you may have already seen a couple of them.
I Saw the Moon Tonight.
5 AM in a Blizzard.
Those weren’t planned stories.
They were just moments I grabbed before they slipped away.
I’ve got a few more sitting nearby too — one about looking for Carl Sagan, another that turned into a quiet thank you to Ken Burns.
I didn’t set out to create a series.
But looking back, I can see it now.
A few weeks ago, I found myself walking through Valley Forge National Historical Park, thinking about my dad.
He taught geometry.
But he also had a deep love of American history — the kind he shared with anyone willing to listen.
And without even trying, I found myself doing something I’ve done more and more over the years…
measuring my life against the people who came before me.
The ones who lived through winters without heat.
Who made something out of very little.
Who somehow held it together.
Maybe that’s something my parents gave me.
Because I find myself going there often…
and landing in the same place.
Gratitude.
For warmth.
For time.
For where I am.
So I think I’m going to start sharing these when they come.
Not full stories — not replacing my Saturday stories.
Not something I labor over.
Just moments when something goes by… and I decide to catch it.
I don’t know how often they’ll show up.
Some weeks, maybe nothing passes through at all.
Other weeks… maybe ten things go by before I can even grab one.
That’s kind of the fun of it.
Because sometimes an idea goes by…
and if you don’t catch it, it’s gone.
And sometimes you do catch it…
and it leads you somewhere you didn’t expect.
And sometimes…
you just sit there…
and wait for the next one.
“A Fly Went By” !! Oh George, I haven’t thought of that book in years. I loved it as a kid too, but somehow I forgot all about it during our own child-raising years. I’ll be babysitting the grandchildren in a couple of weekends — will definitely get a copy to read to them. THANK YOU for reminding us all of that book. AND — a much longer discussion, to save to do in person — I completely agree about keeping up a lifelong habit of reading/absorbing history, learning as much as we can about the daily lives of yesterday’s people. To shed perspective on & glean insights about the trials & tribulations they endured. It all helps. Like you, I’ve felt that
spark of gratitude, to suddenly be yanked out of my own woes, when, for instance, years ago I realized how lucky it is to live during a time when antibiotics & vaccinations save & extend life. I’ve felt that ever since seeing a musical about 19th (early 20th?) century life, that included the sad side story of a small boy falling out of a tree and dying several days later; because back then people didn’t know about internal injuries or how to treat them. In contrast, our lives with emergency rooms & 911 & modern medicine feel very blessed indeed. My own two children survived their childhood, which for centuries was not guaranteed at all. I am so thankful for that. So thank you, George, for writing about gratitude as you did.
George, another good one for sure! Those ideas that catch us unaware but bring back a bright shadow of years gone by, and wanting to share them is a real treat, and so satisfying! I love it! Being creative gives us a lift, especially when it is shared … no matter what it is! Thank you George for always keeping me thinking, goodness for sure!