Least favorite # 1. Mrs. Graebe. Oh, that C was not me, but it was me.

    She was not the biggest least favorite, but she was the first that I can think of for me. In my life. I should be grateful that I did not have more negatives before her. I think that is right.

    This was the first in a series. Least favorite teachers and mentors.

    We had four rotating quarter long (nine week) classes as seventh graders. Computer class was a substitute for one of them, so for me it was mechanical drawing, shop, cooking, and computers. I did not do sewing. I cannot recall now if computers or cooking class was first or second. 

    Oh, the class. The teacher. Little or no cooking.

    But a whole bunch of Weight Watcher's formulas on case scenarios on how to lose weight. Multi-step problems that took too much time.

    Mrs. Graebe was overweight herself! What was this all about? Busy work to be fit, a thing that I was (formerly) and she was not?

    Admittedly, I had put some weight on, because since my parents' split I was less motivated, less driven, and I let the love handles grow on my haunches. I was not grossly overweight, like some kids I had known.

    No, I could still move okay, get around. But I was not up to my own previous standards as a kid.

    I had quit the football team, for a number of reasons.

    I failed to do all the stupid homework Graebe has assigned. Tests? I don't know, I don't recall. I got a C.

    This hurt me. I did not think of myself as a C student. But there it was.

    How stupid!

    Stupid! Was it her? Was it me? Yep, in the end we were both dumb.

    Me for not doing it, her for assigning it. There was way too much of it, with little to do with cooking. Asinine.

    Fatso woman. She had me bothered.

    My mother had been in Weight Watchers and had put on a little extra pounds, but not like this lady...

    Ahhhhhh. Ugh.

    My first least favorite teacher. She damaged me.

    It was the first of a series or succession of teachers and mentors that left a mark on me, either literally or figuratively.

    Nor forgotten. Perhaps helpful in the long run? Depends on how we interpret the data and the record,