I wanted to share with you a little of the joy I am experiencing. Knowing that my book is on the cusp of becoming a reality after all the effort it took since 1997 to get here, I have stopped more frequently in the last few months to look back over the distance travelled. And one thing that I see more clearly than anything else is all the people whom have helped me to get here.
It goes without saying (but say it I must!), that Marilyn has helped me the most. She has been there the entire journey cheering me on and helping me work through every obstacle. The book couldn't exist without her help! But there were many others who stepped forward and offered assistance.
Dr. Dick Best, who was the principal at the school where I worked when I became "Mr. Ed." the day custodian, was a constant inspiration. His love for the school and his ability to make everyone there, including me, feel special was a true catalyst to help me feel the freedom to interact with the children in the creative ways that became the spark for my book.
Dr. Sharon Carr, the first teacher to invite me to read my book to her students, helped me to see the potential for taking my book into the classroom. Since reading to her first graders in 1997, I have presented my book to hundreds of children and have a box full of letters (and amazing drawings!) from children to treasure forever!
Mrs. Mary Lighthall, the music teacher at two of the schools where I worked, turned my book into a musical and had the children memorize lines from it. Another teacher friend of mine told me that her daughter, who was in the musical, still remembers her lines nearly sixteen years later!
In future posts I want to take the time to remember many others (like my daughters, my niece, my sister and her husband, strangers, and other authors and presenters at the school where I worked) whom have helped me get my book published. But first, I want to let you know that I have not taken for granted how many wonderful friends have been involved in my dream becoming a reality. I have chosen to pay it forward by offering whatever help I can be to people also desiring to be published. When I can, I will let you know about some wonderful future authors whose books I know you will come to love like I have! I will keep you posted!!
Till then, enjoy your todays! They are the the precious seeds of the future beautiful memories that you will look back on with a smile when you are older. Plant them intentionally!
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