Garton Elementary has over 500 students in grades K-5. The school had been built in 1958 but recent renovations gave it the apperance of a new school.

Jaynette Rittman was my host and is an affable principal with a kind and caring face. I could tell right away that she was committed to her students in the way she'd hoped to find funding to give my book to each student because she believed the book offered her students hope and the will to dream big.

While preparing for my speech, I was surprised to find out that a young lady had painted me a mural of my baseball book. The artist was very shy and yet she braved my glowing praise for her masterpiece. Mrs. Rittman made sure to snap a few pictures of me and the student in front of her painting. I promised the artist that I would send a copy of the photo to Chris O'Leary who illustrated my book cover. I knew Chris would also feel honored by this student's rendering of the cover he'd conceived.

The two presentations went well and we certainly had fun. I felt extra motivated by having Mrs. Rittman in attendance. Creeper and his glass eye completely mesmerized these students. I must have pulled out of my pocket an original glass eye that is used in wax museums for life-like figurines at least a dozen times as proof that the glass eye was indeed real.

A few more book orders had come in during my speeches and Mrs. Rittman asked if I wouldn't mind staying to autograph these new orders. Then, Mrs. Rittman did something that was truly touching. She gave the school's library copy of my book to the artist as a gift and asked if I wouldn't mind writing a few words of inspiration in the book for her glowing pupil. I have to admit that I never get writer's block, but I was trying so hard to convey the right message that I stumbled over what to write. Then I looked into the young girl's eyes which were bold with anticipation and the words just naturally flowed. I needed to show my appreciation of this young girl's gift in a more personal way. So I asked her if she wouldn't mind my giving her hug as a thank you. She said that was fine, but because she was shy she braved through my hug. Still, I felt her yearning - the same sort of yearning all artists feel in using their gift to move us in ways we might have never known.

You - young lady - are definitely a talented artist. You've moved me. Now find a way soon to move a tumultuous world that needs your gift of compassion and understanding.