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A Matter of Respect
Great teachers never stop teaching.
Last month, I traveled to Kansas City with one of my main purposes to see my high school Latin teacher, who turned 95 that week. Bea Notley was not only one of the best teachers I had in a lifetime of exceptional teachers, she is also a friend and one of the neatest people I've ever known. She had come to our high school class's 50th reunion a few years ago and I had promised myself I would go see her.
One would add that this little Scots woman is also a role model for any of us at her age. She fell a couple of years ago and moved to a retirement home so her children wouldn't have to worry about her. She told me that was the least she could do for them. When I arrived, she greeted me at the door to the home with a walker, much smaller than I remember, and then sped off so fast I had to catch her. She only needs it for balance evidently. Good grief. She had lost none of her spunk or her enthusiasm for life, which was a delight.
After a tour of her apartment, a one-room studio with bed, living area, bath and kitchenette, we went to lunch with some of the men she likes to eat with. She told me they had lost a couple along the way. I have to say that these guys were absolutely fascinated with her and I thought to myself that they are probably closer to my age than hers. Before I came, she told me on the phone that she pays for three meals, but prefers to cook her own breakfast because there are only so many meals she can eat in a room full of old people who are younger than she is.
Outside her door is a bookshelf full of the Latin textbooks I remembered so well, along with other texts. I told her I still had some of them with my handwritten notes inside, including all the Latin phrases we memorized each year. Her daughter was afraid the books would be stolen, but she said nobody would steal them after reading the titles. There was also a framed cartoon that she had quoted when she spoke at our reunion.
A note on that – at one point while speaking at our reunion, she called all of her former students up to the front and told us all to sing "Gaudeamus Igitur" with her. To say we all started singing, even though most of us hadn't exactly been humming that every day for fifty years, is an understatement. Something snapped and we all sang out like we practiced every day. It was a showstopper.
One of the places we stopped was a memorial plaque to the veterans who lived in the home. Bea said her nameplate would be ready soon. She served as a WAC in World War II. When the memorial opened in Washington D.C, she attended the ceremony. She said she hadn't thought too much about it, but standing there with all those women made her so proud to be a part of it.
Bea spends her days in the retirement home reading from the books she has left, especially her Will Durant collection. In the early evening, she turns on PBS and watches television for a bit. That's all she can stand. She must keep busy around the center since she seemed to know everyone we passed. She told me she should just figure how to lie down and die at her age but she couldn't do it. That made me laugh. Bea is more alive than many much younger people I know. And sharper. And more fun.
My visit was much too short for both of us so I will have to return soon. I told her the next time we'd get out of there and go someplace fun. I had invited her to do that this time, but she had things to show me. She wants to take me to a cider mill next fall and who knows what in between.
The reason I wrote this was not to tell about my visit but it is so fun to remember that I couldn't help myself. This woman has taught me so much from the four years of Latin I took with her through our encounters over the past years. She is a treasure of the best kind.
As we were touring her space, I pointed to a photo of President and Mrs. Obama hanging on the wall. She nodded and said there will always be a photo of the President in the Notley home. She said she got some criticism for it around the home, but she said we should always respect the office of the President. I was so taken with the directness with with she told me this, the matter of fact tone she has always had. There is no excuse with her for not having respect.
There are so many things I took away from our visit, mostly her strength and the way she continues to inspire me. But, that photo of the President will stick with me. We have strayed so far in this country from the kind of respect she shows. I haven't liked every president, but I try to respect the fact that they are in that office because they were elected and are doing a job that is more difficult than we can imagine. She brought it all back home to me. And I remember who helped instill those kind of values in me.
As I said, a teacher never stops teaching. Thank you, Bea!
Tags Bea Notley, Latin teacher, President Obama, WAC
Categories Books, Friends, Memories, Reflections, Uncategorized
What an interesting story about your former teacher. It sounds like she could still teach people a thing or two!
khfraser says:
Marianne Notley says:
That was beautiful Karen! I printed out a copy for Bea, and I'm sure it will go in her "treasures" box too.
Tell her I'll talk to her soon!
Laura Cleveland Shepherd says:
Mrs. Notley was my Latin teacher at Booker T. Washington in Tulsa! I happened upon your blog post via Facebook, and was teary eyed the whole time I was reading it.! Mrs. Notley was only at BTW for a few years, but I was lucky to be there for two of them. I still don't know what inspired me to take Latin as a ninth grader, but I am so glad I did. I remember the weekly motto quizzes, and I can still recite the prelude to the Iliad! Please tell her that Laurie Cleveland, (I recently retired after a 30 year teaching career!) and Todd Orme still talk about her class. I am so happy that I stumbled upon this post as I often wondered how the wonderful Mrs. Notley was doing. Thanks again! Laura Cleveland Shepherd
You can write to her at 6335 Maurer Rd, Shawnee, KS 66217 or call her directly at 913-248-0678. She would love to hear from a former student. She's a delight as always! Thanks for writing!
Chris Arbuckle says:
So splendid to see Mrs. Motley again and to hear she's as lively as ever. I imagine she's the spark that lights many a meal's conversation there. God bless her, and thank you for sharing this wonderful story. I do look forward to hearing about your visit to the cider mill!
She is wonderful as ever. Glad you found the post to get updated on her!
Phyllis Cox says:
Thank you so much for this story. Bea Notly is one of the most incredible women I've ever known. We worked together at Tulsa Midtown Meals On Wheels for many years until she moved to Kansas City. Miss her and think of her often. Please give her a hug for me and let her know her light shines brightly in my heart.
Wonderful memory! Thanks for sharing.
Sarah Davidson Dirrim says:
I just came across this in searching Bea Notley's name. I was in her Latin and Literature courses the years she taught at Tulsa Washington: '73-'75. She also had tremendous impact on my intellectual development and interests. I attribute becoming a National Merit semi-finalist to her Latin classes. I am delighted to learn that she has lived to a fine age.
I think Bea influenced every student who ever had her in class. I spoke with her a few months ago and she still sounds as great as ever. Such an inspiration!
Lynn Rapp (previously Toni Bond) says:
Thank you so much for this article. I too was a four year Latin student of hers at Edison H. S. In Tulsa, OK. It was wonderful to hear about her.
I spoke to her last month & she is still as wonderful and inspiring as ever. I'm hoping to make it up to see her soon & to her 100th Birthday celebration later this year!