Ms. Rine

Ms. Rine,

I have looked for you online.

Most of my closest friends know I am quite the online sleuth, capable of tracking down all ghosts of boyfriends and crushes past.

But I can't find you.

It was many years ago.

Many, many years ago in a first grade classroom we met.

You were my teacher and I loved you.

And it's true I had a deep fondness for just about all of my elementary school teachers, but you did and you do hold a very special place in my heart.

I was only 6 years old, but I remember you well.

I remember the Snicker bar you gave me once after I helped you erase the chalkboards after school.  You always let me help you erase the chalkboard.

And I remember you gave me my very first lunchbox.

I had always wanted a lunch box, but they were a bit of a luxury in my house and I hadn't had one before or anytime after that metal Kermit the Frog pail.

And it wasn't a brand new lunch box.

I remember it was used and I somehow put it together in my mind that you might have given me a used lunch box so as not to seem like I was a favorite of yours.

And it's okay if I was your favorite.

I needed to be your favorite at that time in my life.

Thank you for making me your favorite.

It's odd...perhaps even creepy,

how often you cross my mind.

I wonder how you are doing.

I wonder if you went on to teach many years more.

I wonder if you married and had children.

I wish I could remember your first name so I could use my super-stealth search parameters to track you down to send you a letter.

In that letter I would thank you for the lunch box.

I would thank you for the Snicker bar.

I would thank you for being an inspiration to me and caring for me.

I would thank you for letting me believe in all the years since I was 6,

I was your favorite.