Everyone has that one teacher, ya know? That “Captain, oh my Captain” influence in your life?

Mine was this woman. High school was rough for me, and she cheered me on every step of the way. She was a LOUD voice in support of my “muchness”. One time, when I got sad because one of the big showpiece female solos didn’t come to me, she pulled me aside and said, “Stop trying to be Sarah Brightman. You’re not that kind of voice. You’re Melissa Etheridge. Sing like YOU sing.”

The choir room was a safe place for me, and in my junior year of high school, it seems I rarely left. When every other teacher tried to pretend I wasn’t pregnant, this lady reminded me to drink more water, and had my competition gown re-fitted so I could still compete in Area, just 3 months before Jack was born.

Christine is one of the reasons I am like I am, and I’ll never stop being grateful for her.

And seeing her happy like this? Seeing the way she GLOWS when Fred puts his arm around her? She’s got such an amazing joy around her right now, and I couldn’t be more thrilled that she found it. I know she was influential for so many other students even just while I was in high school… but even if all she’d ever done was love ME, she’d still deserve a medal.

Anyway, sappy-ness aside, Christine & Fred got married. And then they came to the Botanic Garden to take pictures with Mack & I. And the light was delicious and her dress was adorable and we had SO much fun.

Yeah, I know. Crazy, right? This gorgeous woman was one of my high school teachers, and let’s just say, I’m hangin’ on reeeeal tight to the last 6ish weeks of my 20’s. So basically, she has amazing genes, and I’ve got the jealous.

Ms B (which I suppose I should change to Ms Z), you’re still one of my favorite people on the planet. Thanks for tracking us down for a liquid lunch in Vegas last year, and for letting us capture this sweet time in y’all’s life together, and for the unwavering faith you had in a terrified 16-year-old girl that helped prop her up more than you could ever know.