We moved to Sterling, VA in 1977. I attended Sugarland Run Elementary for fourth and fifth grades and Seneca Ridge Middle School for the sixth grade. Our Fifth-Grade class was blessed to be Mr. Victor Yager’s first class, ever. There are about 18 of us from our fifth-grade class connected on Facebook. Mr. Yager finally retired after 45 plus years of teaching in Loudon County in 2021!

While staying in touch on Facebook is nice, seeing old classmates from fifth grade in person is even better! When the time arrived to visit college campuses, Dr. Brian Noland is the ETSU President! This becomes even more interesting when we consider the importance of the Van Atta’s in my life.

We lived on Meadowland Lane in Sugarland Run, which sounds more idyllic today than ever. Across the street from us were The Van Atta Family and one of my besties, Didi Cioffi. Dale and Lynne Van Atta were the parents of two children in 1978, Tara and Dylan. I loved being their babysitter, friend and neighbor. Dale had just joined Jack Anderson’s syndicated column at the time. In the fall of 1980, we moved to Tennessee.

Kate Van Atta, their third child, was born March 23, 1984, months before finishing my sophomore year of high school. Since we lived in Clarksville, our electricity came from Cumberland Electric Membership Cooperative. Every Junior was tasked with writing a short essay espousing the value of having electricity for 50 years. I wish I could say I spent a long time writing the winning essay. Alas, I did not. I came home from cheering one night, had a clear idea and typed it out. That essay earned a small scholarship and a week-long trip to Washington DC with all expenses paid. Lynne could bring all three kids to visit and meet me in June 1985!

Though I had a full ride academic scholarship at APSU, I chose to not continue there after the rape. Instead, I transferred to East Tennessee State University in Fall 1987. While I don’t recall a great many things from my time in Johnson City, I remember the distinct need for an established, high level speaker at the ETSU College of Journalism. Dale Van Atta had the only interview with President Ronald Reagan about the Iran Contra situation in February 1986. In addition, he had been nominated a hand full of times for the Pulitzer Prize. In the Spring of 1988, he brought Lynne and the kids to Johnson City. He spoke at the event and they surprised me with a visit to my apartment.

Fast forward to the early 2000’s. In 2006, I met one of my dearest friends, Vicki. For years, she talked about her besties out of state, including Kate. It took until 2009 for us to realize it was Kate Van Atta…of “my Van Attas”. Meeting her as an adult was precious!

We saw each other again in April 8, 2013, when Vicki got married to Josh. Our daughters were dancing together here:

Only God weaves together such ridiculously beautiful tapestries with people. I see what He did with Mr.Yager and the Van Atta Family!

Thank you, Jesus!