James has progressed very quickly.  Since he learned to juggle only a few weeks ago, he has a very solid, regular shower pattern.  So a couple of weeks ago, I started teaching him to pass.  Passing always attracts attention; six balls is a lot to have in motion. It's showy, all the motion and energy of the balls going between two people.

So I wasn't surprised when I saw four people standing there watching us.  "Can we watch," they said.

Well, sure.

Three of them wandered off after a few minutes, but Kathryn stayed.  She said she was from Dallas, Texas.  She was so transfixed, I stopped juggling and asked her if she wanted a lesson. She agreed immediately.  She picked up the moves pretty quickly.  Usually, it takes a few sessions before people have the "one two three" breakthrough.  But Kathryn was picking it up quickly.  She started saying "okay, one more time, then I have to go." That's when I know they're hooked, when they start saying "one more time."

And then she got it.  One, two, three. And her face lit up, and she laughed.  They always laugh.  As if juggling were saying "you've always known life was this beautiful, but you forgot.  Now, you remember."  I gave her a set of the simple juggling balls I make from rice and balloons, my compliment to the brave woman from Texas.

I wonder what she says when her friends in Dallas ask her "how was your trip to Oregon, Kathryn?"