“Sister Alvira’s Birthday is on Halloween”
“Happy Birthday to Sister Alvira”
Do you know anyone that has a BIRTHDAY on Halloween?
Sister Mary Alvira is the NUN sitting on the left of this photo… enjoying an ice cream cone on the “Anniversary” Sunday Celebration taking place at the German St. Vincent’s Orphan Home.
That would be at 7401 Florissant Road, Normandy, Missouri 63121 – in the Saint Louis County – North – not to hard to find.
The Nun sitting in the center is Sister M. Celestine and she worked on the “Girl’s-side” that Dining Room and on the right side of the above Photo, is Sister M. Luitroud and her working assignment was in the Laundry.
When I saw this photo in the Newspaper, I just had to cut it out – since you never did get to see the NUNS eating in public, as their uniforms, before this one you now see, did include a large white bow that ties up close and under the chin – and to eat in public, really would be taking a chance on food getting onto the uniform and that just would not look very good at all.
Now, that I think about it, that just might be why this new version of their uniform was made.
The Nuns were usually… all so very nice and thin and perhaps they did not get any extra – in between meals and or snacks?
Well, when you are my FRIEND, like Sister Alvira, and I KNOW YOUR BIRTHDAY – it will always be a very extra special day… that is implanted, into my brain – a day, that I will never ever forget!
So, I have this little card with a nice verse on it – something, that I guess we should always give a thought or two about – because we are all here on Earth… and for a very short time – and then, one day we will all be together… for all Eternity!
Reading the above message over a couple of times, does make you think about being with your loved ones, here on Earth and then… comes that final day, that your NAME is called, when we are to start to leave here – and even though some of our family and friends have gone on ahead of us – we all – one day shall always be… all and forever after…. together.
If only most of us would think about that time, a time of getting to meet our family and friends again – maybe we would remember – that our memories are always with us – and it sure would be good to carry a large bag of terrifically superb memories – than an old empty sack – that only makes us sad!
“Have to leave a good message to all, and to Sister Alvira – that we are thinking of you, as we did long ago, when we were all here on EARTH and we were… all the best of FRIENDS – and someday soon – we just never know when, that happy day will be – that we will all be celebrating our being together – making so many more new… and the HAPPIEST of Memories in Heaven!” ….. D.V.
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“Is LIFE Better Today, Than Yester… day”
Inflation, circa 1957
This has been circulating via email. The following were some comments made in the year 1957:
(1) “I’ll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, its going to be impossible to buy a weeks groceries for $20.00.”
(2) “Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won’t be long when $5,000 will only buy a used one.”
(3) “If cigarettes keep going up in price, I’m going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.”
(4) “Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?”
(5) “If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.”
(6) “When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon? Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.”
(7) “Kids today are impossible. Those ducktail hair cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls;”
(8) “I’m afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying damn in “Gone With The Wind”, it seems every new movie has either hell or damn in it.”
(9) “Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn’t surprise me if someday that they will be making more than the President.”
(10) “I never thought I’d see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now”
(11) “It’s too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.”
(12) “It won’t be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.”
(13) “I’m just afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.”
(14) “Thank goodness I won’t live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to Congress.”
(15) “The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.”
(16) “I guess taking a vacation is out of the question now days. It costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel.”
(17) “No one can afford to be sick any more, $35.00 a day in the hospital is too rich for my blood.”
Amusing . . .
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“Navy Day on October 27th”
“NAVY DAY’
Navy Day on October 27th salutes all of the military personnel who have
served, both past and present, in the United States Navy.
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy currently stands as the largest, most powerful navy in the world, with the highest combined battle fleet tonnage. The service engages over 340,000 personnel on active duty and more than 71,000 in the Navy Reserve.
Navy History
Throughout the Revolutionary War, the Navy’s importance grew. Today, the United States maintains 40 naval bases across the country, including the world’s largest Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia.
Below the sea, submarines became a part of the Navy during World War II. While experiments began in the late 1800s and during the Civil War, they did not join a large part of the Navy inventory until World War II. At that point, subs became necessary for surveillance and rescue, even though they were also armed.
With the advent of the airplane, the Navy became vital stations for the Airforce as well. As a result, the Navy modified ships into floating landing strips. Today, joint Naval and Airbases such as Pearl Harbor-Hickam provided necessary fleets of the sea and air defense.
Theodore Roosevelt and the Navy
Between 1922 and 1972, the Navy celebrated its birthday on October 27th in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt’s birth. He elevated the U.S. Navy to a premier fighting force. During his term as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, he built up the power and strength of the U.S. Navy. Roosevelt’s pursuit of the naval aircraft advanced the U.S. Navy. As president, Roosevelt was the first president to submerge in a submarine and also the first to fly. His support of the Navy led the former Secretary of the Navy, John F. Lehman, to say, Theodore Roosevelt, “was one of the architects of our modern Navy.”
HOW TO OBSERVE #NavyDay
Recognize Naval service members and their dedication to their country. Visit a Naval museum to learn more about the Navy’s history. Discover more about naval training, the types of ships in our fleets, and where they sail around the world. Use #NavyDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL NAVY DAY HISTORY
The Navy League of the United States organized the first Navy Day in 1922, choosing October 27th to honor the birth of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Navy Day received particular attention from President Warren Harding. Harding wrote to the Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby:
“Thank you for your note which brings assurance of the notable success which seems certain to attend the celebration of Navy Day on Friday, October 27, in commemoration of past and present services of the Navy. From our earliest national beginnings, the Navy has always been and deserved to be an object of special pride to the American people. Its record is indeed one to inspire such sentiments, and I am very sure that such a commemoration as is planned will be a timely reminder.”
In 1949, the Department of Defense Secretary Louis A. Johnson directed the United States Navy’s participation on Armed Forces Day in May. Although, as a civilian organization, the Navy League was not affected by this directive and continued to organize Navy Day celebrations as before.
Then, in the 1970s the “birthday” of the Continental Navy was found to be October 13, 1775. CNO Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt worked with the Navy League to define October 13th as the new date of Navy Day. However, Navy Day in the United States remains primarily recognized as October 27th.
My son, LEE G. ALDRICH Jr.
When you are in the NAVY, you just LOVE to hear: “NOW HEAR THIS!” And also: “ALL HANDS ON DECK!”
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“HERE IS What TO DO on HALLOWEEN”
“Halloween Time, First Year to celebrate”
Halloween Time
During the early 40’s, while we were doing our best — all of us in AMERICA… working together… doing our part at HOME saving all those things, metal cans and also newspapers and magazines that were needed and collected by us kids, to help support our men and women that were in uniform, in a joint effort to win WWII…
…. so the holiday, “Halloween” took a back seat – and guess what… I’m… a little kid, just doing…. as I was told!
We had our small “Victory Garden” as most of our neighbors did… and with our backyards … we planted those things that the family would like to eat and that would grow just as fast as possible…
This was a family working together everyday … we all had some little things to do daily… so with our helping each other…to do those things, that we will also be learning about those different seeds… which seeds turn into food faster and…
then… also using the garage to set up … with a few chickens, we learned to do without lots of things, and by being so busy doing all those most necessary things for our home and Country… we were very happy and we did feel blessed with that which… we had.
When you are attending school, your teacher informs you of the upcoming “Holidays” ….
Some things that would be helpful, and also what you will be needing … such small things, that you just might be able to make at School …. and to take home to do as you will be celebrating with your family, and just so that your parents will know how much you know… you will bring home evidence!
I could draw a big circle and color it orange and cut it out, calling it a pumpkin, as it was for the “31st of October,” so we could know to celebrate, “Halloween!”
“To this day, I’m surprised to be alive?”
I was so fully “armed” to go out… at night…to do “Halloween” with my “Pea Shooter” and a “Soap Bar” and a bag of “Peas” … all of the required ammunition!
For me… to put a small “Pea” in my mouth, line it up, in the “Pea Shooter” – and then, blow as hard as a “Tornado” or “Hurricane” with a dead aim at the neighbor’s windows – what a joke on me?
I could hardly, even get enough wind in me, to get my self home!
What ever happened to all the peas – did I swallow half of them?
The “Pea Shooter” was only an ice cream … soda straw!
I do not believe, that… even one little ole pea, ever hit a window?
Till this day – I still don’t know what … “what in the world… I was suppose to be doing!”
This is ME, and my youngest brother, little Tommy… and the shadow on the ground … looks like my Dad’s hat … indicating to me… that he is taking some pictures of the new area of Saint Louis … we have just recently moved into!
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“The 31st is coming up real soon”
“Happy Birthday Sister Mary Alvira”
“Is Everyone … Back in School?”
This Photo has one of my very favorite teachers’ – and that is “Sister Mary Alvira” – sitting on the right side of this PHOTO with her class of students at German St. Vincent Orphanage.
This Photo may have been taken in the 1980’s – as “Sister Alvira” is now wearing the newer type of style of “Nun’s Habit” as it was called –
And… if you ever get to see some of the older styles of their “HABIT” – that the Nuns did have to wear – they were just so heavy and long and just full of layers – and their head gear would cover so much of their face – that all you could see of the Nuns’ face … would be their eyes, nose and mouth.
With this newer style of dress “habit” “garments to wear” – must now… really be so much easier to get ready for their day’s work.
“Sister ALVIRA” was our 5th and 6th grade teacher – when I was in her classes (1940’s) and I did enjoy having her as our teacher and my friend.
Sister Alvira had been an orphan also – she with her sisters and brother were in this same Orphanage as children.
Four of the five girls did decide to enter the “Sisters of Christian Charity” convent and as the youngest of the family “Veronica” became, “Sister Mary Alvira” a very fine teacher – and – she was also my very good teacher and friend, till the day she left here, for her eternal reward … to be with the Almighty Yahweh!
In those days… when I was there, at St.Vincent’s – we would gather into the 7th and 8th grade class room, to rehearse the music and singing of the songs… that we would be singing in Church.
“Sister Alvira” had a very distinctive voice – she was an “alto” and there were very few of the Orphans with the same “Alto Voice” and they with “Sister Alvira,” would be seated together in “Sister Gilbert’s” class room for better harmony –
“Sister Gilbert” was the one “NUN” to play the organ… also there was a small “ORGAN” .. one that required her to use her feet to pump up … so that we would have the music – and so that she would know … if we, the students were all singing in the correct “key” and to make the best of all of the songs.
They both had a very good “ear” to hear which of us were singing off “key” – and “who” of us… would ever want to do that?
Just thinking about that “organ” that “Sister Gilbert” played – she must have had some really strong legs – since that was an “organ” which you would have had to pump hard and long with your feet, just to get the beautiful music to come out – a real worker for the developing of the legs – a most terrific exercise.
Back in those days – we did receive a very good education – in fact, if you were really paying attention – you would fly through your first year of “HIGH SCHOOL” –
The teachers had us learn enough to carry us well beyond – we spent more hours daily in school, and if you did not have work to do on SATURDAY – then, you were also in “SCHOOL” all the morning hours till noon time, for dinner– so there was no way for you to do poorly in school – come to think about it – “No one complained about going to SCHOOL!”
“Have the very best of all BIRTHDAYS, “Sister MARY ALVIRA” … as I now believe … that you are now in HEAVEN –
with the rest of your FAMILY and FRIENDS!” D.V.
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“Last Day in OCTOBER… is Sister Alvira’s Birthday”
“Memories of Sister Alvira”
“Memories from my Autograph Books of Sister Alvira”
Sure was glad… that I had these old “Autograph Books” from when, I was in the Orphanage and then… had the nerve to ask for “Autographs” of the people there – and some of the NUNS – as some, I didn’t really get to know – as they were mostly on the “Boys’ Side” and then… some just did not have that kind of kindness and or a personality – for a small girl to even try to ask them… for something, such as an “autograph” because some NUNS…were not too friendly to anybody… including me.
My problem was that – when I was first there, and on one of the first “VISITING SUNDAYS” … my Mother had ask me – “what was it like and what did I do.”
No one should ask me a question like that – because, I will tell them – and what I had told my MOTHER – was something that they did not like for me to tell – as my Mother reported everything to “City Hall” downtown , Saint Louis –
So immediately … and when they got in touch with the Orphan Home – – I was watched… as if I was a “SPY” – one who tells all – and everyone will hear about it – especially me!
I was almost afraid to ask anyone anything – as they all thought I would snitch, and everyone would be in trouble!
So glad … that I was not too afraid to ask for “Autographs” way back then…and for all of these years, that have gone by… so and until… I started doing this “fourgrandmas.com” blog – was I ever so glad … to find these old books and now… be able to copy everything that was written in them – so that now the whole wide world can know… who and what was written – and either laugh or just turn the page to something better.
Check out what I had posted for “Sister Alvira and Sister Emeline” as it is “Sister Alvira’s” Birthday the last day of October!
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Autograph Memories pg. 7
Sister Emeline (12-26-49) and (01-16-50) this second date is from my second book of autographs. This is truly a friend for a lifetime, and I am very glad to have been her friend! I always felt like a part of her family, since Sister told me so much of her life before becoming a Nun.
Sister Alvira (02-04-49) – my 5th and 6th grade Teacher! Also, she was the youngest girl of her family and also became a Nun. Sister Reynold, Sister Loyolis (06-10-50) – Sister Emeline and Sister Alvira all good Nuns – I sure am glad to have been a part of their family, while on our journey in life! Sister Alvira, a friend for life and someone I kept in touch with forever! “Lucky ME” – to have had wonderful life-long friends!
Betty Weisenberger wrote in my book with a P.S. message – “Remember when we had charge of the – Rat Hole!” That was one job very few wanted. But, one must keep in mind that when “Friday” came around – you always went to the Normandy Theatre – you were never in the general circulation to get into “Trouble.” Trying to remember our numbers, Betty had a sister Edna – I was #91 and they were #92 and #93 – maybe someone will let me know?
Mary Kreitner (02-13-49) was the rich aunt of Jeanne Saettele’s family and cousin to our family. She was about the same age and did the same Catholic Society type things that my Aunt Irene Riley did. Here is what Mary Kreitner wrote in my book – “When you grow old and can not see – put on your spectacles and think of me!” Guess what? I am old and need my spectacles – to see and thinking of you!
P.S. Thanks for reading and I just hope that you enjoy reading about all the things that happened – maybe before most of you were even born!
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