Day Seven with Izzy (same as FB notes pretty much)

Today Israel spent the morning with his Papa, and after Eddie and I had our private time at the Ice Show, we picked up Israel and took him to School for Strings.  He has already visited and attended Eddie's private violin lesson with the inimitable Mr Lieb on Tuesday.  I explained he had to be quiet, and he immediately requisitioned my notebook and pen and took notes throughout the lesson -- tiny scrawl writing with his left hand from right to left (backwards) reminiscent of the finest doctors or Cy Twombly on acid.  When Mr Lieb harmonized with Eddie, Israel stood up to listen with his entire body. 


When I told Israel we were going to School for Strings to see Eddie's lesson, he packed his "sacky" (Thomas train knapsack) with paper and markers to play with while Eddie attended music theory class.  For group violin Israel sat still for the entire forty-five minutes during which time he listened and watched, and when he was bored he would work on removing or replacing his sneakers and socks, tying and untying the laces.  He has never had sneakers or socks before.  He loved the class, and if you ask him, "Izzy, do you want to learn to play the violin?" he quickly answers, "YES!"

Violin takes place on the fourth floor, and I don't know if Israel has ever dealt with walking up or down steps before, but he is certainly interested in learning how.  Today, after we got to the bottom, he turned around and ran back up all four flights while I chased him (both of us laughing all the way) with the violin on my back and my purse filled with snacks and stainless steel water bottles.  


Israel runs to see his Papa, as soon as he gets home.  Papa asked him, "did you have fun at school?"  and Israel said, "YES!"  He starts an Early Childhood Music class in a week and a half, and he'll interview with the School for Strings to start classes in the fall on the instrument of his choice, but we're pretty sure he'll choose violin.  I feel so blessed to have two children from two different continents moving in the same direction.