For Peter

I’m spending a lot of time at memorials these days. Partly it’s to do with living in a small town with a median age well above the national average. Partly it’s to do with loving people, being close to them, and wanting to stay present when they go. I had the chance to speak about my 7th grade teacher, Peter Thielke, this past Saturday. I think more people should know about this lovely man, so I’m republishing my speech on my blog. Writing—and especially writing that expects to be read aloud—has been feeling so alive to me lately. Good thing, too: I have to write another one of these (for my dad, no pressure) in the next five weeks. Anyway, here are some words: Hello, everyone. My name is Lucy Bellwood. I had the great joy of being Peter’s student almost 25 years ago. I was twelve when we met. The teachers I’d had at Oak Grove up till then had taught me many things, but a fluent understanding of mathematics was not among them. I entered 7th grade carrying a level of insecurity around…