The Gay Uncle received a startling phone call the other day. It was “Aunt E.” a fast-talking, joke-cracking, old family friend, who just so happens to have been the director of the first pre-school he attended as a wee lad in Detroit–a little place called Wee Wisdom. He hadn’t heard from her in exactly forever, but her message was straightforward: she was coming to New York to visit her son, and wanted to get together for a drink or lunch or something. Sadly, the G.U. was going to be out of town during her planned visit, but they managed to catch up during an extended phone conversation. Aunt E. had read about his book, and expressed her pride in his accomplishment. She also mentioned an advice book she’s been working based on her career working with young kids (a manuscript he looks forward to reading, especially since she described the first chapter as being about whining.) Finally, she regaled him with humorous stories about her own struggles bearing witness to contemporary parents, including a cringe-worthy anecdote concerning a young mother’s not-so-gentle reaction to a game of “Snow-Plow” involving a four year-old, a toy bulldozer, a wooden dining room floor, and a twenty-five pound bag of rice. After hanging up, G.U. thought about Aunt E’s hilarious, insightful, intelligent, snarky, and tack-sharp perspective in all things related to young kids, and he made a startling realization: she is his earliest and most central inspiration. So he just wants to say thanks to her for loving kids, for loving his annoying little self as a kid, and for being such a perfect role model. Everyone has those teachers they remember and look up to, The Gay Uncle couldn’t be more pleased that he ended up becoming just like one of his.