Re-posting a favorite story of mine. One day while driving through the center of my hometown I spotted a very elderly woman crossing the street up ahead of me. She made it across the street safely, but as I drew closer I could see that she was having some difficulty negotiating the high curb and getting up onto the sidewalk. When I was almost abreast of her I could see her beginning to teeter Oh my god, I said to myself, shes going to fall then, without further thought, I jumped on the brakes, came to abrupt stop in the middle of the street, threw the transmission into park, leaped out of the car and ran to to her aid. I got there just in time as she began falling back and to her left, caught her in my arms and gently lifted her up and onto the sidewalk. She fumbled about for a moment, but recovered her bearing and composure remarkably quickly, turned to face me and said, in the bell clear voice of a much younger woman, Thank you young man! Now I fumbled as alarms sounded and lights blinked on and off in the back of my head. From deep within I recognized this voice. it was the voice of my sainted first grade teacher Miss Knodel, I knew it like my own mothers voice and I looked intently into the wrinkled face of the elderly woman before me in search of my beloved teacher. And as my eyes met hers I recognized those kind eyes that had gazed so lovingly at me almost sixty years ago. Miss Knodel? I said softly, almost hesitantly. Yes she replied, And to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking? she said crisply, clearly and with a hint of the authority of a teacher. Its Billy Brissette Miss Knodel I said, sounding every bit like the six year old boy I was instantly reduced to in her presence. Oh Bill, How wonderful it is to see you! she said, seeming to have instantly recalled me out of the mists of time. And if her recognition of me out of the thousands of students that she had had in her class over all the intervening years that she had taught werent enough, the next words out of mouth almost dropped me to my knees. And how is your sister Susan? she asked. I couldnt believe it, not only did Miss Knodel remember me, but she also remembered my sister Susan who she had also had in her first grade class and who was seven years my junior, my baby sister in those days. I told her that both Susan and I had gone to college and then on to graduate school at Harvard and that I had become a Lawyer and that Susan had become a Hospital Vice President, and that she was now the President of a her own Healthcare consulting company. Miss Knodel beamed, and seemed genuinely pleased to hear of our accomplishments. She then told me a little of her story. She said that she was 94 yrs old and that she had taught for almost 60 yrs. And she added that her proudest accomplishment was that no student had ever left her first grade classroom without knowing how to read. Not even one! she said proudly, though some had entered her class speaking only a few words of English. And then she said that she had a question that she hoped that I would be able to help her to find an answer to. I said that I would would be glad to try. She then said, BIll, why cant the children read today? For a moment I was at a loss and just stood there silently and then said, Well for one thing Miss Knodel, youre no longer there to teach them. Nor are there many teachers of your caliber teaching today! That much I knew was true. I can still remember Miss Knodels class. She would read stories to us and then we would work on learning the words in our Dick, Jane and Sally readers. I dont remember Miss Knodel ever raising her voice, she was always kind and understanding even letting a few of my classmates sleep during class saying that they were tired and we should speak softly and let them rest. She would work with the slower children individually and put better readers with slower ones so that we all pulled together and that way no one was ever left behind. She also made sure that everyone got milk at our ten Oclock break whether their parents could afford it or not. We were all equals in her eyes. I loved her and she made learning a joy the way only a real master of the art of teaching can. In all the years I attended school I dont think I ever had a better teacher than Miss Knodel. It was at this point in our conversation that it hit me. I was standing there talking with the woman who had taught me to read. Without a doubt the most important skill that I have ever acquired in my life is the ability to read and Im still working on improving it. Hardly a day goes by that I dont look up a word on my online dictionary. I teared up at the thought as I am now as I write these words and I said with tears flowing down my cheeks, Miss Knodel, thank you for teaching me how to read! And I put my arms around her and hugged her and kissed her on the forehead. She smiled and said it had been her great pleasure after which we parted. That was the last time I ever saw Miss Knodel and I read in the local paper about a year later that she had died. Without thinking I stopped to help an elderly lady cross the street one day and in return got the opportunity of a lifetime to thank one of the greatest benefactors in my life, the wonderful lady who taught me to read. Thank goodness for Miss Knodel! They say that every once in a while an angel comes to earth and walks among us, being an atheist, I dont believe in the supernatural, but that said, I do know an angel when I meet one.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 01:52:37 +0000
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