Acknowledgements:

I want to first acknowledge the best English teacher that anyone could ever have.  Miss Gladys Viator (Miss V) taught me and the rest of my class “right.”  I must also acknowledge that she can only be held responsible for the teaching – each student must accept responsibility for the learning or the blame for the wasted opportunity to learn. 

Any success I’ve had with words must be shared with “Miss V.”  Any shortcomings rest solely on my shoulders.  I hired a professional editor to review the first draft of the document that follows.  She found so many errors that I was embarrassed.  My choices were simple – take substantial time and money to create the perfect text or “print as is” and disappoint Miss V. 

I thought about this and realized that part of the charm of this journal is its folksy style and the flavor of the language – mistakes and all.  Miss V was good to me in high school even though I disappointed her by “not living up to my potential.”  Since I took the easy way out in high school – I figured why change now, so here’s the Journal mistakes and all!  I hope Miss V understands.  I trust each of y’all will as well.

Enjoy!

Manes