MEMO: Making Mistakes Meaningful!
Here is a story that you may remember if you were in my High School Class – almost 50 years ago! I had taken a position teaching High School and I was only one year older than the oldest girl in my classroom and to speak in public with the “KINGS ENGLISH” was something that I needed to think about – before I put my big “FOOT” in – and live to regret what I was doing?
Since I was so close in age to the girls in my classes – some of the girls had asked me if I would take over the Gym – Instructor’s position – as they were telling me the current Instructor was not interested in the girls getting involved in some of the “SPORT” activities that they had hoped to participate in – this year? I would like to help them out – but this was something that I really could not do – unless it came from the top office – and since the class schedules were already set-up and no changes could be made this semester – that is as far as I was informed – so it was best for me to keep a more laid back profile – who am I to instigate changes?
So, in one of my classes – as is sometimes the case – talking freely and having fun in what I am doing – talking more than I should on something and not getting any real responses – then all of a sudden – I said it! Somehow the work “AIN’T” came out loud and clear – not especially to my ears – but there was one person who was actually paying attention to my every word! This young lady’s hand was flying all around – a mile a minute – waving me to let her say something – so I pointed to her so she could have the floor. “Miss McLaren – do you know what you just said?”
Naturally, the second the word, “Ain’t” – left my lips – I knew it and felt so dumb – had to immediately use this situation – for a learning “lesson” and said – “only one person was paying enough attention – just thought I would see if anyone was really listening to me?” “Now we can go on with the information for this class – as I have the full attention of everyone – hopefully – someone else will be able to catch something even more important?”
That was one lesson that I had to put in the file cabinet of my brain – always and at all times to be careful of what is coming out of the mouth – before someone that knows as much or more than me – will not find that I am saying words that have no real meaning – to the subject at hand.
When I was in the Orphanage – our school teachers were always telling us – to refrain from using unbecoming language – they had in mind “dirty words” as some of the boys especially used some “foul” language – which even truck drivers would not use. The NUNS would say that, “when you are applying for a job that you really want – a word that you are using today and every day – will slip out of your mouth – and you will not get the job that you were otherwise well qualified for!” “That was always a fear of mine – a word slipping out of my mouth – something that did not apply to the conversation, at hand?” … “Highly embarrassing?”
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October Weather – Foggy!
Today’s weather should wait for the 31st – that would be HALLOWEEN – and everyone would love it! The FOG is just sitting outside the windows – no animals in or near the back field – not even in the SUNSET PARK! It is dark – cold damp – and foggy all over!
Some of the leaves are dropping – leaving spaces to where we can see up the Missouri River – no “River Boats” tooting their horns – so the “FOG” is in full charge, TODAY! Seems that the Fog is so heavy and dense – you could slice it into little, bitty pieces – and maybe some of the water would fall out – you know – just drop down on us like “RAIN!”
Today, if you were planning on going to the “OLD Town Festival” – as soon as you take a look out your windows – and see all this thick stuff staring back at you – you would start to scratch your head and say, “Should we go or should we stay home?” “If we go – we will all need to carry umbrellas – cause if we don’t – it for sure will pour down on us?” And all the volunteer workers – are saying, “SURE wish we didn’t volunteer for this “today” – it is going to be cold, damp, gloomy and just a plain miserable day –no one will show up and we will be doing nothing but drowning in the rain?!”
Last year for this “Festival” we had all kinds of good old “SUNSHINE” – maybe we used up too much “SUNSHINE” – and maybe you are only allowed so much – so maybe our preparation committees should start checking with the “WEATHER MAN” in the future and see – for sure – that he knows how to read the signs – and give us a “forecast” long in advance – so we are all better prepared? The more I look at this stuff – my “body” is sending me a message –“this is a very good day to catch up on all the sleep that you have lost and now you can renew your body with re-new strength – so that tomorrow you can really have the fun that you missed not having – today!”
That’s right – tomorrow is a “HOLIDAY” – and I am off work – so I can have all the fun that I missed toady – cause the “SUNSHINE” will be shinning – just to dry up all this gloom and doom – and all that wet stuff – that’s falling – just like it was on special order??
“HIP ! HIP! – HOORAY for COLUMBUS DAY” – tomorrow – we sure are” Lucky” – that Columbus made a mistake and found this great land – AMERICA – so we will give “THANKS” that we are always “BLESSED” and hope never to forget – some old gloomy days carry a “SILVER LINING” for those who can standby and just wait??
“Goodbye Fog – tomorrow we welcome Miss SUNSHINE!”
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A “Saint” for our times!
In Sister Florence’s classroom – in the 1940’s we were told of a young girl, named Maria Goretti who had worked some miracles and the Church was praying for her canonization to take place. So, in the 3rd and 4th grade, we were informed about little Maria Garetti, who lived in Italy and the hard time that she and her family were having. This was a very bad time for many families and many of the people needed to make lots of changes in their lifestyle – just too survive.
In the Catholic religion – the Nuns would have many good examples of current events and often gave us the story with the added amount of information – so that we would learn the correct way to apply the examples of the different Saints – to our own living style – and hopefully for the rest of our lives?
In the “Goretti Family” – the changes in their life style was that they needed to move in with another family in a new part of Italy. With this change all the family members were needed to work on the nearby farms, including the mother of the family. So, little Marie, age 11 – was to stay in the home and do the mother’s duties.
Always – there are those in this world- who should know better, especially in Catholic Families – since we do study the 10 Commandments and should give respect to another’s dignity and rights and above all obey the “LAWS” as given to us by Almighty Yahweh! But, the other family living under the same roof – sharing the home with the “Goretti Family”– had a 19 year old son. This 19 year old boy attacked the little Maria – with the intentions of raping her. Marie screamed, “It’s a mortal sin – You will go to hell!” But this fell on deaf ears – he stabbed her nine times and when she tried to get away another 3 times.
When the family came home after working all day in the fields, found Marie bleeding and laying at the door as she did try to get out and get help. The family took Maria to the nearest hospital but the damage to her frail body was just too much – she did die. Before she died, Maria did forgive her attacker and of course the authorities had arrested him for this crime.
In the classroom – our lesson was to strive for living a pure and holy life – no matter what temptations may turn up along the road and to always remember the story of little Maria – that she would rather die than to commit a mortal sin.
One of the older girls in the Orphanage – after having graduated and leaving the home decided to become one of the NUNS in the Sisters of Christian Charity – and when they are to be a NUN – usually take the Christian name of a Saint. This girl took as her new name, “Sister Maria Goretti” – a very good name and one of the newly canonized Saints in the current times. Saint Maria Goretti died July 6th, 1902 at the age of 11 – a real Saint for our times – TODAY!
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Sister Florence – page 2
When I was in the 3rd and 4th grade classes of Sister Florence – there was always something exciting going on – as she was a highly creative person. Sometimes – some of the Nuns when they are “HAPPY” and or maybe feeling better than usual – they will tell of some of their own personal life – either before becoming a NUN or some of their training and education – to give us an idea of what they gave up to become a NUN???
So, with Sister Florence – she like to write – maybe she had – had a book published or just wish to do so at some point in time – as she was now writing a book in her spare time at the Orphanage. Our class was doing “good” or she wanted to inspire all of us students to write – so one day since we were so “good” she said she would read to us something she was working on.
Since this has to be at least 60 years ago for my brain to remember the exact principal character in the story – it was either “TOPSY” or “Cotton TOP” – but a character who was young and like doing all kinds of stuff – and in those days – equal to getting into “TROUBLE!” Well! When you are in school and as a kid – who likes school when they are in school? So, when the teacher announces that the “class” is good enough and that they rate a treat – we were all for the treat!
When Sister Florence started to read her story – all of us were quiet – you could hear a pin drop. We were mesmerized with the originality – we would have sat at our desks forever – just to hear what was going on? Also, when Sister would read – her voice changed and there was such expression in every word – she had a very creative way to deliver what she was reading – a very good reading voice!
After about an hour or so, all good things must come to an end. Sister Florence said that when we were especially good – on another afternoon – we would get to hear more of the story as there was quite a bit already written and lots more to come. So it followed – on different occasions – we were always so excited to hear more of what was going on – and with each and every reading – we were always hoping for even more.
After leaving Sister Florence and the 3rd and 4th grades – going into the 5th and 6th grade classroom – so now – I did not think about that story – guess I was getting used to being older and there were now – bigger and better things to start to think about?
But – as I had read about Sister Florence having passed away in the Alumni News – the first thing that came to mind was – we never ever heard the end of the “STORY” that Sister Florence was writing? I never knew what the title of the book was – and have no idea for sure the main character’s name – and all I really remember now is that it was a “SPELL-BINDING” story – and it is like something is missing in my brain – what ever happened and now – how to get a copy – if it ever was printed- what to do – now??? (If you know??? – let me know???)
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Sister Florence – remembered!
Have two stories – that just came to mind – that my son liked –so am passing them on!
When I first started the third grade – in Sister Florence’s classroom – was seated in the first desk – to the right of her desk. Naturally – right up and in front of her – most of the time – and guess what? I was one of those kids who liked to bite their fingernails and then see how far, I can blow them – away from me? (I do not want to say “spit” them, but to a kid that was what I was doing.)
So, there I am doing the biting and taking aim for her desk and “Bingo” safe landing on target – and that would be one after another – do have ten fingers and all nails have to be checked out – no long nails for me! We had two classes in one room – 3rd and 4th grades – so she would spend so much time with our class and give us something to do while she was instructing the 4th graders and vise verso.
When I had a “nail” ready to send on its way – I always checked to be sure that Sister Florence was not looking right at me – and bombs away – there it went! It would seem to me that some of the other kids also bit their fingernails – so, how do you determine which of your students are sending the nails – straight to your desk? I’m guessing we kept Sister Florence busy cleaning off her desk – and she was getting sick and tired of the mess we were making for her?
Early one morning in class – Sister Florence had a “newspaper” in her hands and giving it a shake to open and turn to a page – getting our attention to something from the outside world – in the Orphanage – we – kids did not have newspapers to read – so this has to be something “IMPORTANT!” Sister Florence starts with some comments – about some exciting facts – have just been revealed and she feels that we should be aware of this new breakthrough in the medical field to save lives?
Sister starts to read something – which could or could not in realty really be in the newspaper – for she could have typed it up and had it inside the folded paper – just to look like this information came from the outside – but – that which we would believe as if the “Gospel Truth!” – Now, exactly what was supposed to be in the newspaper – I cannot remember – but this is what I heard and it stuck in my brain – because – I believed every word of it!
In the medical field – having examined patients who were suffering with stomach pain and dying with all kinds of cancers – they have found what the cause was and could have been prevented – if the patients would not bite at their fingernails. What was found was a sack attached to the stomach wall and growing bigger because of all the fingernail bits and pieces of dirt and germ material that the patient swallowed when putting their fingers in their mouth – just to bite off their mails. That’s all I needed to hear – I would not put my dirty fingers even near my mouth and ever since then – use only a nail file on my nails! It was just too much for me to hear as a third grader – Sister Florence got perfect results with that story – for me!
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“Performance Perfectionist”
When you’re producing a “SHOW” – you do need someone that has an eye for detail! If you are at least my age – looking at the top photo you know that – that is the one and only “Sister Florence” – doing her thing – with a highly creative and artistic touch – she can whip together the group of students – to see and understand how something beautiful can develop from her instruction with flair and your part is “Practice, Practice and Perfection will result” – no doubt about it!
Sister Florence taught the third and fourth grades, when I was in the Orphanage. She also had an “artistic” flair with painting and drawing and had each of her students send home to their parents – something that had hearts on for Valentine’s Day – and some type of flowers – that I still remember how to make – and she had decorated with beautiful shaded colors on these cards – of which I still have some – that I sent to my Mother. If you were interested in some of the creative drawing that she did – she did take the time to show you – and that’s something she was well noted for!
In the second photo – I can hardly see enough of the faces of the NUNS – to be able to tell exactly who they are and their names, those – that are doing the sewing of the “Roller Skating Costumes” – but one thing for sure – the NUNS do know how to do excellent and some terrific sewing – as I know first hand – when I was there – “nosy me” – I had ask Sister Seraphine to show me how to use the sewing machine and I was lucky to learn. It takes some real practice – as you have to get the hang of using that “treadle peddle” – in order to have perfect stitches on the garment you are sewing.
Having old pictures of when you were a youngster – is the best thing of all the things – that one will take the time to save – The memories of what you and friends were doing – sure make your “TIME spent with Friends” – some of your best MEMORIES – you and your “LIFE” here was meant to be!
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