The great people that come into your life

Thankfully, we have people come into our lives that make them better. It may only be for a moment, for a day, for a week, and hopefully for a lifetime.


In third grade I had a wonderful teacher, who liked me for who I was...an ADHD loaded red-head that asked too many questions. I had major difficulty sitting in my chair, and she always handled it; but was never insulting or humiliating. She was a sweet teacher. Her name was Mrs. Bauer.


My (great) Aunt Josie. She would sit and listen to this "pre-teen" talk for hours. She was such a pretty lady and I loved to have her brush my hair and let me wear a little lip color. She died young, from cancer, but I'll never forget her.


My great grandmother...Gertrude Marlowe. What a fantastic woman she was. She had 15 children, worked really hard, was the best cook and had a sense of humor that makes me laugh even today. She hated to see me with make-up on when I was a teenager, and if she caught me with it on...off to the bathroom we'd go. She'd turn a lovely soft cotton washcloth into a pumice stone without batting an eyelash! She was able to meet her great-great grandson, Austin, which made 5 generations. She died before he turned two, in the early 90's. She was in her early 90's.


My father's parents. My father is "technically" my step-father, though I don't think of him that way at all...he's my dad. His parents, Ruth and LeRoy, one day were blessed (?) with three grandchildren. I loved to have long conversations with my grandmother on the phone, loved to write them letters and especially to receive a letter back from them. They never made us feel like we weren't their "real" grandchildren. They were wonderful people. God rest their souls.


Mrs. Covey. So much to say about this very special person. When things got tough for me at home, at eighteen years of age, she offered her home. She was my chorus teacher in high school and she was the coolest teacher/person there. My first night staying in her home, I noticed she had a lot of coffee...she loved to drink coffee and loved to have someone drink coffee with her and just chat. She offered me a piece of blood sausage, which I had never heard of, and couldn't bring myself to try. She wasn't the best for housekeeping, but she was very busy...she was a mom, a teacher, a coach and a wife. I loved having the house clean for her when she'd come home. She'd be so happy. She encouraged me to stay close with my mom, she allowed me to learn things the hard way, she was a great support system. I was not the only "orphan" she helped...she is absolutely so special.


My husband. I've known him since I was 17 years old. I worked for him (and his family) at JB's Drive-In in Hinckley, NY. It was a small ice-cream, burgers/hot-dogs and some groceries. I feel like my husband loves me just as much today, if not more, as he did back then. When I started working at the store and saw him (though he was with someone else), it was love at first sight. Very corny, I know. But, absolutely true. He drove up Stormy Hill Road in Grant, NY to attend my graduation party and my heart just stopped. I wasn't working at the store (yet) that summer and learned that the "someone else" was out of the picture and he asked ME out. Wow, I felt like I was being asked out by Brad Pitt! He's a stand-up guy...not afraid of anything...an incredible work ethic and a great dad. Though our marriage has certainly had it's ups and downs, I am very glad we're still in it together.


Kathryn from ERC. She and her husband Andy are by and large the most genuine "southerners" we've met yet. Even though they are from the Dakota's! They are thoughtful and kind. Austin's first car...a beauty of a car, very well taken care of was because of Kathryn and Andy. They sold him their first NC car. I never did get into the Jazzercise that Kathryn always begged me to go to, but I am so proud to call them our friends.


Though I am sure there are more special people in my life, the most special is my dad. They say you marry someone like your dad and I am positive that I did. My dad is an honest man, a hard worker, smart, proud, funny and an incredible role model. I waited until I was 22 years old to tell my dad that I loved him and I still tear up with regret over this today. I hope he is 1/2 as proud of me as I am of him. My mom and my brothers were so lucky to have that big brown oldsmobile and that guy with the "engineer" eye-glasses come into our lives. He is a huge part of our success as adults.


I hope you have special people in your life and I hope you take many moments to be thankful for them.