Roll Call
February 9, 2020

    Setting aside (for the moment) my family, friends, peers, and scholarship donors, here are the people who have taken up a strong, supportive stance alongside my swinging log and extended their hands to steady and guide my walk.  These are the people who, beginning in my early adolescence, have invested significant time to help me, to teach me, to point me in the right direction.  These are my mentors, in other words – my spirit guides, in some cases.  For some, the time they personally invested in me was very brief but wildly impactful; others have mentored me by consistent presence in my life over longer periods of time, sometimes much longer periods of time.  A few have mentored (or continue to mentor) me from a distance, while others have been – or are now – my up-close-and-personal go-tos.  Each has made an incalculably valuable contribution to my life.

     Brent and Jill, Deidre, Donna, KayBo, Tom M., Rebecca, Tom P., Deacon, my college algebra and college trig instructor at NEO A&M College (spring and fall semesters, 1996).

     Kimerer, Emily.

     Larry, Michelle, Jamie, Dick and Cindi.

     Michael S., Rick, Mary Sue, Katie.

     Will, Adam, Timila, Kevin, Libby, Judy, Michael P., Mac, Michael M., Gary.

     Chuck and Ann, Ben, Chuck C.

     * * *

     No wonder I'm still up here on this log.