To pass time waiting on my building shuttle to ride me home, I phoned my parents back home in Mobile, Alabama.

They were both in the front yard, swatting away mosquito’s and journeying to get the mail (we have a long driveway).

“Oh, you have something from Heather Pace Arnott,” dad said. Heather is the very lovely marketing manager at the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. My most favorite violinist, Joshua Bell, recently performed with the MSO, and she e-mailed me the night of the concert, “We will miss you.”

I could hear my mothers voice in the background.

“Do you want us to open it?” dad asked.

“No–wait. What kind of envelope? Is it addressed to me?” I asked.

“A big envelope,” my dad said. I suddenly knew what it was. Heather had sent me an autograph from Joshua Bell.

I directed my parents to open it, but not to touch it. I held my breath. I could hear mom ripping open the flap.

“Well what is it?” I asked a million times.

“An autograph!” Mom and dad said at the same time. They read the signature. “To Ariel–Joshua Bell.”

I nearly fainted on 86th Street.

“Oh my gosh! I can’t believe she did that for me! Oh my gosh!” I had to explain to my parents who Heather was, and that Joshua Bell was my favorite violinist of all time. They laughed at my excitement, and promised to send me it shortly. I’m going to hang it on the wall somewhere near my other autographs (I have choreographer Frederick Ashton, Yo-Yo Ma, and David Hallberg already on my walls).

I called Heather’s office and tried not to sound too excited, but thanked her profusely on her answering machine. I owe her!