In the fifth grade, my teacher, Mr. Loute (sp), would read to us every afternoon for about thirty minutes.  I looked forward to this time of the day, even more than recess.  The second half of the year he read a book to us called “The Iceberg Hermit” by Arthur Roth.  His reading of this book actually changed my life.  I fell in love with reading and figured out that I had a very vivid imagination.  He was very animated when he read to us and all I can remember is being so excited about what was going to happen next. He would adjust his inflection and even his accent to the character’s of the story.  Truly one of, if not the most memorable thing any of my teachers did.  If you like adventure fiction, I can tell you that The Iceberg Hermit is a good read.  Today I came home to the paperback proof copy of my newly published book in my mailbox.  I have been holding it since it arrived like it was a newborn baby.  The very minute I looked at it out of the box, my mind immediately thought of The Iceberg Hermit and Mr. Loght(sp).  I’ll be honest and say that I got a lump in my throat.  I can’t believe this book I am holding is filled with my imagination put into print.  I would give anything to be able to tell my fifth grade teacher how much I appreciate him doing for us what he did.  “If you’re up there looking down on one of your old pupils, I am sorry I can’t remember how to spell your name but how about this…  Thank You Mr. L!!!!!!”