As I look back through my journey into becoming close to an educated mountain man, I see two sides of me. Both people reacted quite differently to what was presented to them. I looked at the little kid in kindergarten and first grade. I was by no means the most favorite kid in the class. Most probably quite the opposite. The teacher saying to themselves “make sure this one goes on to the next grade”.    But then came the second grade. This was the first time I fell for a cute lady and the first time the teacher challenged me in many ways. You could not have asked for a better acting little angelic kid. I was not that kid that swore in kindergarten. I was definitely not that kid that messed his pants to prove to the teacher “I had to go”.  I was such a sweet little kid. It is almost sickening to even think about it.  Then the family moved and here we go again. The fourth grade teacher was a male and we definitely banged heads quite often. One could almost call it child abuse some of the things he did. But this only fired me up even more. I was used to adults leaning on me and I just patiently waited for that “get even” time. That was the kid from kindergarten from first grade. Now we were in fifth grade. That teacher challenged me in many different ways. If I finished a test early, which was normal, she pleasantly gave me another tougher test. “See if you can finish this test for me Kenneth”.  The Challenge.  “Do you think you can do this?”  Always the challenge.  And then again we moved. Rangeley here we come. It didn’t take me long to become that kid from kindergarten again. Teachers slapping me beside the head or on the hand just drove me deeper into resolve to “get even”.  Which, became a bad cycle for me. Then along came high school. I was both that kindergarten kid and that the sweet lovable kid from second grade. There was both the challenge and that misguided teacher. They reacted to that kindergarten type person who in turn returned as they always had. It is at times, that we as humans react with out knowing why. It is also a smart thing to react at times. A hot stove will burn you every time you touch it. You soon learn to act and react to events. Over the years, I have tried not to react against individuals due to something that happened in the past. There was a time I was doing things for an organization and my reaction was swift.  A gentleman was helping me do a task and called me a dummy.  Now, I have been called many things by friends and relatives. Normally this would just roll right off my shoulder and the days task would get done. But not this time, it was different. My reply was so swift and mean, it even surprised me. I had to analyze it for myself to find out why. The gentleman was a retired teacher and to call someone a dummy was not the best words to use. There is that kindergarten kid again. You see folks, we are all teachers. Everyone out there knows something the next person does not know. Our words, our actions and the look on our faces are always telling others something. It is not our task to do everything for the next person. It is however, our task to encourage and to challenge. I have often wondered what type of person would I be if all those that taught me were like my fifth grade teacher. But then, I would not be who I am today. My original goal in life was to go to West Point and into politics. I was proud to wear my “I Like Ike” button.  Ya know folks, I am glad I stumbled and fell. I am now just an old mountain man.  Well not totally old yet.  Remember folks, we are all teachers, What we say and how we challenge others is what makes the world turn. Time to feed the chipmunks and ducks.   Have a fine day folks..  Ken White mountainman.