And 31 years later...

I'm here! I've arrived in Chicago!

And sure enough, my 8th grade social studies teacher zipped through the airport and picked me up! Thirty-one years later, we had a TON of catching up to do!

Needless to say, he can still dish it out. So how weird is it to get into your teacher's car and then have him treat you in the local Chicago pub, McNamara's. Mind blowing, really. So many answers to questions I've wondered about for a long time.

A bit of trivia: Mr. Hoeksema appears in my first novel, Loose Threads. Yep, that would be he.

Here's to teachers who give their all and impact their students in life-changing ways. Thanks, Mr. Hoeksema! And to his folks who raised him so well and are starting a new beginning themselves. Cheers!