The Journey Inward

It was September 1991.
I had recently graduated from college,
moved into an apartment with my best friend,
and was starting my teaching career.

So much new, 
so much exciting,
so much scary!

Enter Nancy.

Teaching the same grade level,
she quickly became my mentor
with her easy smile,
endless patience,
and solid teaching skills.
She was my hero
and I watched and listened
and questioned and emulated.


Nancy and I at school circa 1991.

And then I got engaged.

She became my marriage mentor
with her successful union,
wise words,
endless patience
and solid relationship skills.
I watched and listened
and questioned and emulated.


Nancy and her husband at a Christmas party
at my house in 1993.

And then I got pregnant.

And Nancy became my parenting mentor
with her teenage girls,
balanced approach,
endless patience and solid mom skills.
I watched and listened
and questioned and emulated.

After my third child,
I stayed home for a bunch of years.
Nancy visited,
we met for lunch,
we stayed in touch.

Then it became just Christmas cards.
And then it stopped.

But she's back in my life
by the most serendipitous of ways!
And yesterday we met for a quick cup of tea
that was anything but quick!
So much to catch up on...
kids, grandkids, families.

Same easy smile,
same endless patience,
same solid friend skills. 
Same Nancy.

34 years after we first met,
we were back together again.
I told her what an influence she had been on me.
My mentor in life, my hero.
She brushed it off with her usual humility.

I sent her our tea house pictures,
taken by a former student of mine
now a sophomore in high school,
who I introduced to this teaching mentor,
(such a fitting moment)
and reiterated my respect for her.

She wrote back...
"I am in awe of you...your confidence,
your total investment into things
that really matter to you,
your spirit, your energy,
your independence...
today was really special...
and so are you!"

This woman
made all the difference in
my career,
my marriage,
my parenting,
my life.

There is nothing more important
than having a mentor
and being one.

Photo:  Nancy and I today.  Flemington, NJ.  4.23.25 by MN