When I was six years old my family moved to Maryville, Missouri. My grandma had just died and I was leaving my beloved aunt and uncle not to mention my grandpa. I was not a happy child. I was in first grade and my new teacher’s name was Mrs. Dowden. I was brand new in class and very shy. Mrs. Dowden told us to get our gym shoes out one afternoon. All of the girls had the same white, Ked style tennis shoes. I got mine out and put them on my desk and the little girl sitting next to me thought they were hers. An argument ensued and she told me to give them back. Both of us ended up in tears with Mrs. Dowden having to step in and figure out what was going on. She found Lori’s shoes in a bag in her cubby. That was in 1966 and we have been best friends ever since!