Lydia Earhart

Growing up, I used to sing along to the theme song of the TV show “Touched by an Angel.”

It was a routine to watch it with my grandmother every Sunday that I was in town visiting. The show, popular back in the ’90s, was about how special angels live among us. My grandmother believed in angels and collected them, too. I never had the chance to ask her why or if she ever had a sighting.

In a sorted box after she died, I found the book “When Angels Walk with Us” proof she believed we are guarded and protected, spiritually and by others.

My grandmother would often call certain people angels. When someone would help her out or show her kindness, she would say, “you’re such an angel.”

To me, angels happen to be the special people you meet who seem to appear at the right time in your life for whatever reason. It will make sense when you meet one of these people and you likely know more than one.

For a while, I was scouting for more freelance contributors with something refreshing to add. Along came Jo Ann Garner. She reached out to our publisher and her longtime friend, Jay Covington, of a chance encounter.

Out of the blue, she had a profile piece she wanted to share with us and our readers. Garner previously wrote for CityLife when Venture Publishing first launched CityLife back in 2006.

Per her desire, she wanted to get back into what she found a love and passion in – writing. She owned her own modeling agency and still works with some women teaching them and helping them learn how to walk and act with poise. She also teaches etiquette classes.

I was interested to get to know her from what I heard. We set up a meeting around lunch to have a talk. Garner greeted me as I walked into her office. She was cheerful, stylish and very beautiful. She was charm and no pretense. That is refreshing. We spoke about many topics of interest to her and some new topics to research for CityLife.

During our talk, she was sweet and calm but had a keen sense of awareness about what the community has to offer.

She is, in a word, sharp.

We are happy to welcome Garner back in the pages of CityLife. Read Garner’s story about Miss Shreveport Justine Ker and her amazing talent on Page 31.

I left the meeting feeling good, not just about her working with us again, but more about the joy of meeting her. She is a lovely person.

Whether you believe in angels or not, think about all the good people who appear in your life and cherish their stories and traditions. Welcome them graciously and warmly.