My Security Question

When you set up an on-line account and get the question, "Who was your favorite teacher?"  I am sure someone easily comes to mind for you.  I have talked about the teacher that changed my life.  Now I will talk about my favorite teacher.  The teacher that is the answer to my security question.  She was my high school composition teacher.  I was cheated because she did not teach novel at the time I was in school.  Listening to her read was something special.  She read some excerpts from Grapes of Wrath.  That was wonderful.  Listening to her read was like listening to Paul McCartney sing.  I do not compare a person to Paul McCartney lightly!
Today she came into my little shop.  What a thrill for me.  Seriously!!  We had time to discuss books.  She loves Anita Shreve.  I love Anita Shreve.  She loves Wally Lamb, I love Wally Lamb.  You know this can go on for hours!  Readers usually love many of the same authors.  She is a special person and was an amazing teacher.
There are teachers that are fun.  I can name a few of those teachers.  There are teachers that make learning easy.  I can name a couple of those teachers.  There are teachers that make you want to earn an A so bad you can taste it!  She was probably my one and only in that category.  She also fit every other category.  Sitting in her class was never boring.  The lady loved to laugh and still does.  Not just laugh, laugh a big from the heart wonderful laugh.  She liked to have fun right along with the students.  Not to the point that her classes were out of control and a student could not learn.  I cannot imagine there was ever a student that did not take with them for life something from her class.  (Was that sentence a run on?)  I craved an A from her.  Never wanted an A so badly in my life.  We were given themes for our stories.  I would write a story, get it back slashed in red.  Here is the interesting part.  I would not get angry.  I read her comments and LEARNED from my mistakes.  Who knew that is how the system should work.  I cannot tell you what my final grade was in that class. 
She is a cat lady.  My cat had kittens.  One day she walked to my house on lunch with me to see the kittens.  That was special.  It surprises me when I look back at that.  I was poor.  My house was very rundown.  The only reason I would have taken her to my home was because I felt lucky to get extra time with her.  It also would have give me the opportunity to laugh more with her.  We did some laughing.  Big tears run down our face laughing.
I see her around town every once in a while.  When I talked to her a few years ago she suggested I start a reading journal.  I did and I appreciate having them.  (I have not been keeping up with my journal since Coco's.  Boo!)  One of the first things she said when she walked in today was, I hope you are finding time to read in here.  Arizona you know I thought of you! 
I told her she was my security question.  I cannot imagine how many people through the years have told her she was their favorite.  There cannot be very many students that did not enjoy and learn from her.  Today she reminded me they have a book club.  I really need to check it out.  I think I would feel intimidated.  I do not think I have ever called her by her first name.  That is something that is still difficult for me to do with teachers.  I do not think I ever use her name.  Too silly!! 
Point of the story, she came into my store.  We talked books.  We laughed.  We talked about life.  Tragedy.  Laughter.  Good stuff. 
What next, Willie Nelson coming into my shop to sing to me.