Reconnection

Back, many years ago, when I was first working out the whole "human" thing, the Old Folks sent me to a traditional school. I had quite a few really excellent teachers (and, naturally, a few I'd rather forget.) There is one teacher in particular who really made an impact on me . . . in the smallest of ways. She included a little note to me on one of my papers encouraging me.

Specifically, encouraging me to pursue cooking if that were really my interest. Don't worry that most humans would recoil in horror if they knew the lovely dessert they just ate came from monkey hands.

I've never forgotten her encouragement. In fact, when ever I make something I am particularly proud of, I think of this teacher and wish I could thank her.

Well, last month, a friend of mine was able to secure this teacher's (now retired, remarried, and moved away) address. I finally got to thank her for her encouragement.

Today, I got a letter back. She was thrilled to hear that something she has no memory of made such an impact. She was also pleased I'd taken her advice. And, probably, best of all, she has no memory of me. Which I take to mean that perhaps I wasn't as terrible and awkward as I thought.