Traffic jam pastimes

On the way in to work/daycare this morning, we were stuck in a traffic jam for about a half hour. James usually fusses when we're in a traffic jam (hey, I sympathize), but today he was strangely quiet.

After a few minutes, he called, "Mama!" I turned around to find that he'd taken off one of his shoes and was leaning forward in his carseat, offering the shoe to me with as much ceremony as if he were allowing me to kiss the papal ring.

I took the shoe. He shouted "Yay!" and applauded.

We repeated the entire sequence with the other shoe and both socks. When I brought him into his classroom, I discovered that his teachers were in no way surprised to see him without shoes. It turns out that, before eating anything at school, he ritually removes his right shoe and offers it to one of the teachers. I wish I knew why.