I transferred into Hamden Hall Country Day School in the 9th grade. Betty Lou Blumberg taught English, my favorite subject.

 

She was like no one I had ever known. She had boundless energy and was constantly moving. Betty Lou could sense when her students were struggling and always reached out. I remember sitting in the school hallway, in pain. Betty Lou got down on the floor to speak with me.

 

When she was my teacher, her dark hair was frosted, like many of the women who lived in Woodbridge at the time, and it made her appear older than her years. I am not sure whether I realized that she was just in her mid-thirties when we met. She always wore a special mauve shade of nail polish that looked beautiful against her skin. When I finally began polishing my nails I wanted to wear Betty Lou pink just like her, but it was no longer in fashion. 

 

Betty Lou taught me how to organize my writing and to connect paragraphs with transition sentences. After my first year in law school, I wrote onto three of my law school's four journals. That success was certainly due to Betty Lou's teachings. Before taking the bench, I spent 10 years as an appellate writer. Some people were wittier than me, but none were clearer. Appellate judges and court attorneys all recognized my writing with its matter of fact style and simple analysis of the issues. Six years ago, after my mother passed away, I was helping my stepfather clean out the house. I found a box full of my school papers, including stacks of my writing. I realize I wrote better then than I do now. I wish I had Betty Lou with me to tighten up my writing again.

 

Mrs. Blumberg had a profound influence on my life and I could not be more grateful. I have been a judge for more than four years. In my current position, I help change many people's lives. While I did not see this goal in my future when I was younger, I hope Betty Lou realizes that I am paying her guidance and support forward in a positive way and that she can take some credit for my accomplishments.