Grandma’s Stories

Jul 25th “NOW… I Lay Me Down to Sleep”

This Photo is of the “BIG GIRL’s” dormitory… and the “NUN” that slept in that small cubicle …in that far right hand corner… was “Sister Seraphine”. She was also the “NUN in charge”  of the third floor dormitories and all of the “Girl’s” clothing – – that is the numbering of  each girl’s identification number  into each and on  every piece of clothing – – and my number was … #91.

Looking down this row of beds – – near the windows – – count down about six beds – – and that would be where I slept for the last three to four years – – till GRADUATION DAY – – and then I  left. Before this “BED ROOM” – – I was in another DORM and the  “NUN in charge”  was the same “NUN in charge of the LAUNDRY” – – “Sister M. Radegundis”. – –  I slept right next to her cubicle when I first came here – – and later was moved to a bed in the opposite corner of the room – – and that is ‘the spot’  for this part of the story. 

When I received the “Sparton Radio” I would plug it in to the electric on the Pavilion – – so as to be  re-charging  the battery – – so then we could listen more often to  music and dance and other programs elsewhere. Some of the girls that like music and had lots of “get-up-and- go” would do all kinds of dancing – – some of the dances the older girls would do – – we younger girls would copy. 

If you watch any of the old time movies – – the ones of the “Army Canteen” since we had just finished WWII – – and most of the movies featured  music and dancing – – and that is what we ‘girls’ were  doing – – so much Fun – – and the time went by faster. At… “ten after seven”  every evening  – – it was then…  time to head for the dormitories. When you were in the  ‘eighth grade’ – you were allowed to stay up till … “twenty five minutes   past eight” – –  as everybody would get up at “five-thirty” in the morning – – since we had to all be in CHURCH for Mass at “six o’clock” – – rain or shine.

So… I would undo the plug from the electric and plug it into the back of my radio – – and get in line with the rest of the girls… carrying  my radio. We had a procedure which we did have to  follow – – each night – – saying our set of evening prayers aloud and unmaking our own  bed – – folding the spread just so…so – undressing and hanging our play-clothes correctly on the chair beside our bed- – even the socks hung on the rail of the bed. Your clothes never hit the floor – – you did have to wear them tomorrow – – for a whole week  – – except for in  Church and  in School –  – and  at each  time  – – we changed clothes… they were hung  up with care!

In a short amount of time…all lights were out – – a few vigil lights would be burning in front of different statues of SAINTS on high pedestals throughout  the corridors – – a night light in the bathroom – – and the NUNS were all off for PRAYERS and or recreation?

So… now I would turn my radio on very low – – had it sitting on my chair – – right near to my bed – – and would have one of the terrific story programs on — and in those  days – – they were all “top drawer” stuff. Well … “Linda Crow” was in the bed next mine – – and she whispered… “Can I listen… too?” – – “SURE” – – “Just pull the head of your bed closer.”  So,  for many a night the two of us would listen to stories – – until…  we would hear the “NUN” coming down the corridor – – each  “NUN” would have a certain way of walking – – and the way they walked and the way their  “Rosary and beads” would rattle along within  their  garments – – each “NUN”  had a distinctive sound – – and you would know “WHO” and how much time you had – – so that you would not get into any trouble.

“Radio off… my dress thrown over the chair and radio – – and… then  I slept like a “new-born baby” – – finishing the “radio story”  as I fell asleep!”

Jul 24th “1947 Sparton Radio – instead of record player”

The best time in all the seven years of my LIFE – – of being an ORPHAN – – would be – – when “VISITING SUNDAY” would finally get here!  At first in the Orphan Home there was only one Visiting Sunday a month – – and then that was increased to the second and fourth    SUNDAY of the month. 

So NOW…after the “record Player” was sent back to “FAMOUS BARR STORE” – – I had to wait till my MOTHER would be out to see us – – and ask for a radio – – since there was no hope of using the records at home on  a record player – – but would MOM want to go to the expense to buy one – – and would it be something that would be approved of by the NUNS?

When my MOTHER would come to visit us – – she would always bring a shopping bag of all kinds of good stuff – – especially some of the things that I would ask for – – on a “POST CARD”  – – a regular grocery list – – sent just the week before visiting day. I liked “Hi HO Crackers” – – “Bosco Chocolate Syrup”   – – “Sardines”  and “Grapefruit” – – and sometimes my MOM would  also bring a pan of homemade “FUDGE” – – which was always the best.  And… since my MOTHER was a saver of “mail” – – she had some of my old “POSTCARDS” – – and  of course – – years later going through stuff – – when moving – – found some of these old cards – – and still have somewhere – – just good old memories… today!

“Visiting SUNDAY” – – “WOW” – – Now I have to sell my MOM on the idea of getting me a portable radio – that I can plug in – – when I can – but be able to play when not  near any electric outlet?  The good radio stories that they had on radio in the 1940’s  and 1950’s were terrific  – – the same as we would listen to when we were home – – and then they had “MUSIC”  – – the “TOP FIVE” hits – –  and one song, the  “Twelfth Street RAG” – – which I would like to dance to – – as did some of the other girls in my class – – and even some of the older girls.

Then there was was  “someone”  around – – as always some of the other kids had no Visitors – – and always enjoyed being around my MOM – – as she always had lots of good stuff to say – – just like I do today – – part of living is always  to enjoy having FUN and LAUGHTER – -makes one feel good – – even though they are not where they want to be. BUT… “someone”  that liked the listing to the Ball GAMES” – – which I was not really “big” on doing – – and when my MOM heard that – – she said that she was not interested in getting a radio for that – – so I had to really turn the conversation around – – and ended up promising that – – I would not waste my time listening to ballgames!

So… when my MOM left us that vising Sunday – – I really did not know if she would – – or would not,  buy a radio for me – – just had to start praying that – – she might – – 

“WHO said  that” PRAYERS” – – are not answered?”

The next “VISITING SUNDAY” – – here my MOM is with a brand new portable radio  – – just like the PHOTO… below!

This “Sparton Radio” looks just like the one I had – – it took a couple of days to recall the name – – of course the one above has been restored – – but the one that I had – – had no problems with and had for a good many years – – and in moving  – – well I guess someone must have liked it better than me – – and helped their selves to it.

“Can you dance this fast?”

Jul 23rd “This is the Playground – Girl’s Side”

If only we had the electrical equipment that the children in the world have TODAY – – boy ‘OH BOY’ – what pictures would I have for ‘Show and Tell’ – – but we did not have!

This is my younger brother, Denny – – and he is on my bike – – and is there a story – – for me to tell about that bike???

There are the swings that we would swing on  – – it is the ‘PITS’ – – that only I have a small  and old box camera – – that did belong to my DAD – – and taking  ‘PICTURES’ – –  well … it was just playing a game – – maybe and may be not – – some of these pictures will turn out okay???

You see what I mean???  Someone forgot to advance the film – – and sometimes – – that same someone – – took two pictures and did so on only advancing the film half a turn — – and so we can only guess at what we are seeing?

BUT… and for sure that is “Patsy Counts” sitting on the swing seat – – and standing  on the same seat is “Gail Porter”  and the two would swing just as high as they could – – what FUN… we kids had???

“Gail” was in my same class and “Patsy” was a grade ahead of us in school.”

This is ME – – sure glad that I had an old bike at home – – so that my DAD could bring ‘it’  out for me to ride. But of course having a bike of my own – –  there were always “fair-weather friends”  – – every one has a few – – what  ever you have…  that  ‘something’ – – and you will  share with those – – some of them really do not like you – – only long enough to get to use your stuff – – then they do not  care  later on…  to share their stuff.

When you live in an Orphanage – –  you soon learn “WHO”  are real friends – – and those that can not stand to be friends with anyone – – some have problems – – that will never ever be resolved – – so this type of a place is a very good learning ground – – for you to form  your basic instincts of who to  trust and  how to learn to live with others – – with cool feelings – -knowing that this is only a temporary situation.

Anyway… this was the back drop  – – of finding…  that I had received a very nice record player – – but… that the NUNS – – decided this was not a safe place to have one – – so if  you the reader tune in – – tomorrow – – you may find out what happens … NEXT???