【Mychildhoodwaslessthanideal--infact，Iwastheonlygirlinmyfamilywhodidnotrunawayfromhomeduringadolescence．（76）___．Comingfromablue-collarfamilyandaneasyruralhighschooltoawhite-collaruniversitythatgavea&quo】

　　Mychildhoodwaslessthanideal--infact，Iwastheonlygirlinmyfamilywhodidnotrunawayfromhomeduringadolescence．（76）___

　　．Comingfromablue-collarfamilyandaneasyruralhighschooltoawhite-collaruniversitythatgavea"C"forworkthatwouldbea"B"atanotherschool，Ifeltlikeamisfitfinancially，culturally，andeducationally．

　　SomehowImadeitthroughmyfreshmanyear，andheadedbackforthesecondyear．（77）___．

　　Barbseemedtheexactoppositeofme（78）___．．OnedayIwatchedBarbdrawwhilewaitingforclasstostart．Isighed，thinkinghowBarbcoulddoanythingshewantedto：draw，paint，sing，andplaytheguitar．

　　（79）___．"IwishIwasartistic，"Ireplied．

　　"Mary，"shesaidinamazement．"YouAREartistic!"

　　Ifiguredshewasjustbeingnice，butifBarbthoughtIwasartistic，theremustbesomethingtoit，evenifIthoughtmyonlyartisticabilitieswerewithwords．Thankstoher，Ilearnedtorecognizemyartisticabilities．

　　ThissummerIwrotetoBarbandremindedherofthatconversation．（80）___．Ihadremovedaclosetinmybedroomformorespace，andneededtochoosecolorsandwallhangings．Ifeltquiteupset．JustasIwasabouttogiveup，IheardBarb'svoiceinmymemory，"Mary，youAREartistic!"Withherwordsringinginmyhead，Ifoundtheperfectcolorforthewallsandtheperfectpicturesforthewalls．

　　Thanks，Barb，forbelievinginmeallthoseyearsago．

　　A．Itwas1990whenBarbsaidthosewordsforme．

　　B．Barbheardmesigh，andaskedwhatwaswrong．

　　C．Iletherknowherwordsarestillworkingtheirmagic．

　　D．I'dbeenwritingpoemsandshortstoriessinceIwas12．

　　E．Shewaspopular，out-going，confident，talented，andartistic．

　　F．I'msogladIwentback，becausethatwastheyearImetBarb．

　　G．AfterhighschoolImoved300milesawayforcollege，butquicklyhadsecondthoughtsaboutwhetherIbelongedthere．