"I was born in Chicago, Illinois and was fortunate to have my parents award me with a beautiful name, Deborah Diane Anderson. 'Deborah was a Jewish judge and was also a brave warrior. My middle name, 'Diane' was selected for me because my mom and aunt saw it posted in the society pages of the Chicago Tribune whereby a "Diane...'' was being presented to Chicago society during the Debutante Ball. Nice, huh? My mom was Jewish with raven hair and owned a fiery and funny personality. My dad was a tall and ash-blonde hair and clear blue eyes. He was Scandinavian and attended a Presbyterian church. He owned a soft-spoken voice with a temperament to match. They could not have been more different. However, I was blessed to embrace two different religions, and that was awesome. I would attend Shabbat with my mom on Friday evenings ans Saturday mornings, and then attend church with my dad on Sundays. From the fourth grade and beyond, I knew straightaway that I wanted to become a teacher and be just like my idol teacher, Ms. Roach. I know, I agree with you... what a horrible name for such a refined and intelligent lady from the United Kingdom! So off I go to college and became my life-long ambition and graduated with a double major in English & French Now, this is where it gets eerie...

My husband and I were walking our newborn son along Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, when I noticed a woman with a graceful walk wearing a handsome tweed ensemble was walking towards us. I quickly recognized her. I told my husband that it was my English teacher who taught me in fourth grade! What a coincidence! And sure, enough, as we meet on the street, I called her name and she stopped and appraised me. Then, as she remembered me she said, '' Bonnie...Bonnie Anderson?'' My husband looked at me as I replied, '' Oh, Ms. Roach, you remembered me!''

You see, the thing is, for some odd reason Ms. Roach renamed me ''Bonnie'' because she said in the UK, the word, ''Bonnie'' means ' happy ' and 'smart'. So, why argue with Ms. Roach? She was my" less...