"And Trying to Remember, Like Jabberwocky. . ."

We share this letter with Becky Peace's permission.

Paul Suerken!
Mercersburg sent your email address. I have been searching for the opportunity to tell you these things for some time, and today is a good day.

Every time I hear the Simon and Garfunkel song "America" on the radio, I remember listening to that song with you in Boone a long, long time ago! I remember feeling ferocious angst, frustration and disconnection -- surely I thought at the time -- it was more than anyone ever had to bear. You responded with such compassion to all of the erratic and irrational symptoms of my youth. I have never forgotten.

And... those books I read in your tenth grade English class are truly part of my architecture now -- distilling essence of character from Hemmingway's terse portrayal of Nick Adams and Jake, looking for green light at the end of Gatsby's harbor for hope and possibility, trying to overcome the inertia that froze Prufrock from eating that _+(*! peach... the Heart of Darkness focus of attention on the rivets of the boat as waters get murkier and situations more treacherous... And trying to just remember, like Jabberwocky that life really is the joy of just being what we make it to be.

I have come to realize that these things are not inconsequential and none of these lessons were ordinary. You were an extraordinary teacher and you gave a sense of legitimacy to a 15 year old when she felt unsure about where and how her feet should go in the world. And I have been remiss for not telling you how profoundly you influenced me in my life. I should thank you every day.

But I will settle for today.

Thank you for teaching me to marvel at the magic of words and much more.

Enjoy this day, my dear friend.

Fondly always!

Rebecca (Becky) Peace (class of '75)