Lorna, My First Mentor

Lorna and Lorraine 2018 

In grade three, I found myself with an unexpected mentor—not a teacher, but my fellow student and friend, Lorna. She was an avid reader, especially enchanted by the Anne of Green Gables series. Watching her fall so deeply into those books sparked something in me. I wanted to do what she did, to dive into stories and worlds that stretched beyond our classroom. Because of her, I began to take reading more seriously, and her love of characters—full of imagination and spirit—inspired me too.

Lorna wasn’t just a reader; she was creative and mischievous, a trickster who always seemed to come up with clever ways to fool the teacher. She had a laugh that was contagious, a warmth that drew people in, and a personality so vibrant it stayed with me all these years.

What began in grade three grew into a friendship and a mentorship of sorts that left a lasting mark—more than seventy years later, I still carry her influence. She showed me that books could be companions, that laughter could soften even the hardest days, and that a generous spirit could shine for a lifetime.

Over the years we kept in touch, on birthdays and Christmas time. I really appreciated her pictorial story of her family each year. These correspondences are still tucked away in my memorabilia box.