Recently, while listening to an interview on National Public Radio, a young scientist who made an incredible discovery in the early detection of breast cancer said, "My leap was really only a baby-step in the cure for breast cancer. You see, I was standing on the shoulders of hundreds of scientists who came before."

Suddenly I had to fight back an urge to pull off the road and write that one down. My prayers would soon be answered because I waited long enough in traffic to find pen and paper.

It occurred to me that every one of us would cheerfully vote for any Presidential candidate who displayed such humility.

Then I thought of the "shoulders" my own husband is blessed to stand on. Every morning of his life growing up his father said to him as he was leaving for school, "Work hard, play hard and remember who you are." Unfortunately, his father passed away before our children were born. But every morning my husband says to his children, "Work hard, play hard, remember who you are and I love you."

I'll never forget the day Alan carpooled several children off to St. Thomas on his way to work. He stopped at the carpool circle, the safety patrol opened the door, Alan said his mantra and one of the carpool kids said, "Ok, Ok but what's so special about you anyway?" To which my son, loaded his 20-pound backpack on his shoulders and said, "Don't ask. My dad will only say, you'll know when you know."

When each of my three children graduated from high school they were given a senior page in their yearbook. One of the things required by the school to include on the page was your most meaningful famous quotation. All the other children found incredibly profound words of William Shakespeare, Thomas Jefferson or Albert Einstein. My children all wrote, "Work hard, play hard, remember who you are and I love you." Author -- my father.

Even though everyone at our house is an adult now, they still hear those words from their dad as they leave every morning or say goodbye on the telephone from school. What broad shoulders they have inherited.

On whose shoulders do you ride? And who will someday ride on yours? What is your legacy? Teachable moments are when you share your stories of "accumulated shoulders" with your children.

I smile when I think of all the life stories I have savored as a teacher. Most of my favorite quotes and parables are from the lips of five year olds.

Whenever guests enter the warm friendly room of the "Queen's Dream Team" -- that's how we refer to ourselves -- we stand on our chairs and recite first in the sign language of Sioux Indians, then accompanied with English, "May the Great Spirit keep you in his heart all day."

As I hear my words coming from their lips, I feel their light weight on my shoulders. And at the age of fifty-five, I know who I am.