When my first book, The Fragrant Garden, was published, I got a phone call that I will never forget. My fifth grade teacher, Miss Rubin, had called to congratulate me and to tell me she was proud of me. She had read the article about me that had appeared in The Montreal Gazette that week.

I was so surprised to hear from her and as excited as getting a phone call from…Oprah. I was especially surprised that she remembered me, but then as I’ve heard other teachers say, she said she remembered all of her students.

“Miss Rubin?” I squealed. I think I morphed back into that nine-year-old girl who was in her class. She is one of the teachers I will never forget. Tall, brunette, and pretty with a never-ending smile, she exuded warmth and affection for her students every day.

We chatted. She was no longer Miss Rubin, having married years ago, but was retired. I told her about my adventures on the road to getting published. She remembered that I liked to write.

There is no doubt in my mind that my teachers played an important role in my decision to be a writer. Weekly trips to the school library and story time in class nourished my love for reading. I wrote stories and got high marks, but never understood all those grammar rules (still don’t). Miss Rubin, and other teachers, encouraged me and made me believe I could write.

October 5th was World Teachers Day. So I’m a day late with this post, but I don’t think it’s ever too late to thank the people who made a difference in your life.

Thank you, Miss Rubin.

Infographic courtesy of https://www.grammarly.com/plagiarism-checker