The Beginning

When I was 19 years old (7.5 years ago), I was given the best opportunity in the world. I worked for a theater company, Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, TN . I taught acting at their summer camp to children and teenagers. A group of those teenagers were given the opportunity to go to Scotland and perform with a group of Scottish teenagers. They spent a good part of a year raising money, washing cars, selling candy bars, and being auctioned off to do common household chores. Two weeks before this motley crew was to leave for their grand adventures, there was a bus bombing in London and one one of these lucky teenager's mother decided he should stay home. Enter me. I was 19 years old and thank God I had a passport. The theatre that I had been devoted to for 7 years asked me, Shanna Riker, if I would like to go on a FREE all expensive paid trip to Scotland. In return, I would be an asssistant stage manager for the show and upon arriving home I would help Playhouse on the Square archive this fabulous adventure.
Of course I said yes, and I was off on the most fantastic adventure of my life to date. I had never been to Scotland and I still believe that is the most magical place in all the world, yes, even more magical than Disney World. We flew into London, took a train to Edinburgh, and then a bus to Dundee. From the moment that I first breathed in that Scottish air, I knew that no place in the world could compare to this one. Almost immediately, I was drawn into a conversation with a very handsome Scottish boy, also 19. This is where the story really begins, and this is where I will leave you wanting more. I have a story to tell and I will tell it, between now and Feb. 17th 2010.