When I stepped my heels out of my car onto the University of Montevallo campus last week, 2 things came to mind. Firstly, how did I ever walk on these cobblestones? Secondly, this would be the first time I would not be able to spend an hour or two in my dear mentor and friend Cynthia Shackelford's office. You see there are those people in your life that make you feel you can do anything you set your mind to. Cynthia encouraged this little girl that she even though she wasn't the most privileged or smartest, that I could do anything I set my mind to. I was returning to campus for her Memorial service and as people got up to speak about Cynthia, I realized that not only was she a light in my life, but in so many others as well. To be a person who taught others to believe in themselves, now that is a legacy. Just being around her made you feel good about life. The world offers few people like Cynthia, so it is sad when they leave us, but realizing how many lives she touched makes you feel at peace. I feel very blessed to have had a teacher and mentor like her.

During this time of year it is hard not to be nostalgic when you feel that fall breeze cooling off the Dog Days of summer. My first school teacher and the first teacher to encourage me was Mrs. Roberts. Mrs. Roberts taught a private pre-K and kindergarten in the small town of New Hope, Alabama where I spent the first 5 years of my life.  

I was a very shy child and Mrs. Roberts would often call on me so that I would have a voice among the other more boisterous children. I remember having my first crush too on a boy named Joseph. Why did I like him? Because his name was out of the Bible. We would play Red Rover and in a very demure voice I would say, 'Red Rover, Red Rover send Joseph right over.' Which would elicit in unison from the class, 'Oooooooh Amy likes Joseph.' 

When it was time for the school play,The Enchanted Forest, all the little girls wanted to play the Fairy Princess. Mrs. Roberts told me that she would like for me to be the Fairy Princess. I was so shy that I said 'no'. The next day she took me aside and told me how she really wanted me to play the Fairy Princess because she knew I would do such a good job. Every night I practiced in front of the mirror. My grandmother made my long white dress. I also had a tiara and magic wand. After that experience, I discovered I did enjoy the lead role, although the shyness would linger for years to come.

Marybella is starting her second year of preschool and from puzzle pieces being hid in her clothes to keep Powell (the little boy in her class) from getting them to singing Pop Goes The Weasel to last week telling me that she and Laurel ate ants, I just hope she is having as much fun as I am in reliving those school days through her.