I was totally caught off guard when, about a month ago, I got an email that Sylvia Jones, a longtime teacher in Marin — and who taught yours truly at Redwood High School — had died at age 88.

A former student, Ted Kniesche, wanted to pay tribute to her and what he’d taken from his time with her in Redwood’s journalism program. His words echoed sentiments I too felt; besides my parents, she was the first person to nurture and cheerlead my love of journalism, pushing me to be the best I could be.

A few years into working at the IJ, she wrote to me that she was happy to see I had landed at the IJ and she was happily following my work — that will always stick with me.

With this in mind, I’d love to know about your mentors, or the people who have inspired you along the way. Maybe it’s your parents or a teacher or an author, artist or other creative you’ve never met before but whose work resonated with you. What did they teach you? What sticks with you? Whoever or whatever comes to mind, I’d love to know.

Please make it a six-word story, a personal short story, with a beginning, middle and end.

Make us laugh or cry or at the least feel something. For an example, here is the famous story attributed to, but not proven to be written by, Ernest Hemingway: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” That’s quite the story! Need more examples? “It can’t be. I’m a virgin,” writes Kate Atkinson. “Set sail, great storm, all lost,” says John Banville.

If you want your story to run in the IJ, please:

• Write “Six-word story” in the subject line

• Send one six-word story. Just one

• Include your full name and Marin town in the body of the email, no attachments

• Write your short story in the body of the email, no attachments

• Use proper punctuation and spelling

• Use sentence style in one line

• Do not submit six adjectives — that’s not a story

Please send to lifestyles@marinij.com by April 18 and look for it in the April 29 lifestyles section and online.

Recently, we asked IJ readers to share their good dates and the ones they’d, well, like to forget. Here’s what they had to say.

No Name Bar: Like Chinese food? — Philip Hicks, San Anselmo and Mt. Desert, Maine

Chez Panisse served delicious Bahri dates. — Linda Varonin, Corte Madera

First date, 30-year marriage followed. — Richard Schneider, San Rafael

Then, dancing; now, coffee, good conversations! — Nancy Greenfield, Larkspur

Two warm, open hearts radiating love. — Maynard Brusman, San Anselmo

Blind date made me pay half. — Mary Ann Gallardo, San Rafael

Pizza dinner. Proposal. Married 64 years! — Dara Moskowitz, Terra Linda

Sadie Hawkins dance. He said, “Yes”! — Penny Kweder, Mill Valley

Can’t be printed in family newspaper! — Evelyn Riebe, Mill Valley

In heels, on back of Vespa! — Ann Woodward, Greenbrae

Are you free now and forever? — Peter Hayward, Novato

May 3, 1980: Best date ever. Still married. — Sandy Magid, Novato

Dancing to Roberta Flack with Barbara. — Sam Fleeger, Marin City

Ice skating. Fracture. No second date. — Adrian Quince, Novato

1959 prom, dead battery, I pushed. — Sharon Eide, Novato

First date, first kiss, first bliss. — Sara Gordon, San Rafael

50th reunion: rekindled an old love. — Dave Powell, Novato

Bowling with redhead; best man ever. — Diane Cokely, San Anselmo

China Camp; hiking, sunset, sleepover. — David Curtis, Novato

Electric blind date, happily married afterwards. — Marty Barry, Novato

Blind date, married for 64 years. — Marilyn DeMartini, San Rafael

Ceramic artist’s show yields family discount. — David Gilbert, Santa Venetia

Blind date, but I knew him! — Mary Ann Farnsworth, Novato

Marin County Fair. Sparks and fireworks. — Scott Kempf, Novato

Attended the philharmonics by sprinter limo. — Lorraine Peters, San Rafael

Ice skating, nasty fall, he laughed. — Laura Call, San Anselmo

Our wedding day, best date ever. — Rip Anzalone, Novato

Dressed pink, in love, couldn’t eat. — Sue Curran, San Rafael

Waterskiing mishap, broken femur, not sexy. — Sarah Weller Leipsic, San Rafael

Dancing without music at Coit Tower. — Caroline Fromm Lurie, Ross

She glowed on stage, future wife. — Michael C. Vogel, Mill Valley

She arrived late. Turned, and left. — Larry Martinez, San Anselmo

Eighth grader. First date. Kiss refused! — Thomas Moore, Mill Valley

He bought the band at closing. — Judy Valentine, Greenbrae

Blind date, dead body at restaurant. — Patrick Ritter, San Rafael

Manoa Falls chance meeting, surfing, married. — Kent Royle, Santa Venetia

Friend’s blind date became my wife. — John M. King, San Rafael

First date, first kiss, interrupted laughing. — Ed Ryken, Novato

Red Boy Pizza with “No Socks.” — Berta Bickel, Lagunitas

“Favorite band?” “Steely Dan.” “Marry me.” — Rob Sundberg, Novato

Our life together, best date ever! — Joan Watson, Mill Valley

Went camping. One tent or two? — Stephen Schmid, San Rafael

Music, dancing, laughter. A great date! — Cece Jonsen, Novato

Out sailing, wind died. Love bloomed. — David Hirzel, San RafaelDance party. Four ask-outs. One keeper. — April Orcutt, San Anselmo

Fourth date Paris. Happily ever after. — Bonnie Brown, San Rafael

I would not kiss an ashtray. — Mary Lou Hayward, Novato

Backpacking in Yosemite carrying a cabbage. — Madeline Kellner, Novato

Warm eyes, soft fur, heart melted. — Katherine Ware, Kentfield

Getting baptized was a memorable date! — Gigi Bibeault, Terra Linda

My date didn’t pay his half. — Heike Dittrich-Kruljac, Corte Madera

Forty-four years ago, Mount Burdell hike. — Nancy Rademacher, Corte Madera

Playland. He threw up on me. — Susan Storch, Greenbrae

She dumped me on my birthday. — David Leipsic, San Rafael

“Did you kill him?” he asked. — Cerridwen Fallingstar, San Geronimo

Most memorable? April 3, Adi’s birthday! — Ron Skellenger, Woodacre

Separately celebrating three ladies’ 100th birthdays. — Michael Ardito, Fairfax

Married sophisticate homemaking, dried up graduating. — Cassidy Juniors, Los Angeles

Said no to plaster caster successfully. — Jack Robison, Los Angeles

Universal Studios, acid, then Joni Mitchell. — Tom Eller, Woodacre

Invited to Annapolis graduation ball — lightning! — Lucille Herger, Novato

Feb. 18, 1966 is the day we met. — Michael Wanger, Kentfield

Campus queen, Corvette and Carmel feast. — Ray Lorber, San Rafael

Group dating preferred Goldenaires Lion King. — Karen Arnold, San Rafael

My birthday, Tony Bennett, Venetian Room. — Cindy Landi, Novato

Sept. 29, 1972, you’re drafted Army. — Robert Limacher, Novato

First date I ate was 1956. — Bruce Donals, Fairfax

Broadway date. Forgot tickets. Got married. — Micha Berman, San Anselmo

Love in Presidio; then police arrived. — David H. Bremer, Lucas Valley

Magical meeting; friend from the past. — Linda Denhart, San Rafael

Quiet guy. No conversation. Married him. — Doreen Malin, Ross

Hansom cab ride in Central Park. — Joyce Crews, Mill Valley

Shall we dance: 62 years married. — Diane Ryken, Novato

Hayride age 15; married age 56. — Jay Ripps, Mill Valley

SF dinner al fresco; pyrotechnics convention display! — Lisa Wolcott, Fairfax

Chose recipe, shopped, cooked, dined together. — Candy Jordan, Novato

Both had braces: Kiss didn’t work. — David Reinstein, San Anselmo

All blind dates were excruciating experiences. — Pamela Lunstead, Novato

First date ski weekend, romance ensued. — Lois Wise, Novato

Morning coffee at Taste of Rome. — Barbara Rowe, Mill Valley

Upgraded strangers, redeye revelations, seatmates forever. — Jack Percelay and Barbara Barrielle, Mill Valley

Entered, saw him, later married him! — Billie Forer, San Rafael

Full moon, slurping oysters, forever married. — Gretchen Alden, San Anselmo

He really forgot our first date. — Janice Kohnhorst, San Rafael

You have to hear this song. — Victoria Worch, Novato

Handsome Beirut boyfriend, dance evening, LaCave. — Gailya Magdalena, Lucas Valley

He offered to blow my leaves. — Mary Geving, Woodacre

He asked, she agreed, they wed. — Hank Simmonds, Kentfield

Husband, pace me over Hope Pass. — Ana Levaggi, Mill Valley

I first heard I love you. — Bridget Wilson, San Rafael

Single mom: two or six kids. — Robert C. Finston, San Rafael and Carson City, Nevada

A date to hate: no show. — Olivia Ruel, San Rafael

Mr. and Mrs. after double dating. — Diane Forster, Corte Madera