Oct 31st “Happy Birthday Sister Mary Alvira”

“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 would wear –  they were just so heavy  and long and 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  “habit”  “garments to wear”  –  must  now be  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 very 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 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 –   and  “Sister Gilbert”  was the one to play the organ  –  so that we would have the music –  so that she would know  that we were all singing in the  correct “key” to make the best of the songs.

They both had a very good “ear” to hear which of us were singing off  “key” –  and “who”  of us …  would 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 developing of  the legs  – a 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” –  and 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 –  come to think about it – “No one, ever  complained about going to SCHOOL!” 

“Have the very  best  of all BIRTHDAYS,  “Sister MARY ALVIRA” in HEAVEN – with the rest of your FAMILY and FRIENDS!”     D.V.

… and just a few more thoughts …

“Halloween Birthday” Remembered

Today is Halloween,  and also the birthday of one of my very good friends,  Sister Mary Alvira! 

Sister is of the order,   Sisters of Christian Charity, and was my 5th and 6th grade teacher , at German St, Vincent’s  Orphan Home, and that was in 40’s.

She had told me her first name was Veronica, when she was at St. Vincent’s, with her four sisters  and a brother. Sister Alvira was the baby of the  their family and loved, helped, and encouraged so much so…  that she was a favorite  friend of a lot of us “Orphans” that were  destined, one day…  to be  in her classroom.

Time sure goes by in a hurry – have to put on my thinking cap – so glad … you called me  when you did,  some years later … long after leaving  St. Vincent’s, and wanted me to find our friend, Gail P., – and bring her out to see you, while  you were finishing up your last “Tour of Duty at St. Vincent’s.”

It was good for us to have that last and final time  to remember and talk about a whole lot of nothing!  As… You then went to the “Mother House” in Wilmette, IL   –  that was a nice long drive  –  and was once  again, with Sister Emeline and your other sisters who  had also became “Nuns.”

As one gets older, (that would be me) one finds most old memories are “Happy and Beautiful” of the “Good Old Days!”  Give Sister Emeline  a warm “Hug and Kiss” from me and all my family  — we love you both!

Oct 31st “13 Bible Verses About Halloween”

Oct 30th “Happy Birthday to Sister Alvira”… on 10/31/2021

“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”  the Dining Room and on the right side  of this Photo is Sister M. Luitroud and her work 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 good.

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 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 day that is implanted,  into my brain – a day I will never 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 here on Earth for a 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 that 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  – we all – one day shall  all be 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.

Oct 29th Halloween Time, First Year to celebrate”

Halloween Time

During the early 40’s, while we were doing our best  — working together to support our men and women in an effort to win WWII,  Halloween took a back seat  –  and I, a little kid, just did as I was told! 

With a small “Victory Garden” and a few chickens, we learned to do without, and be  happy and feel blessed with what we had.

When you are attending school, your teacher informs you of the up coming  “Holidays” …. what you need to do to celebrate, and just so your parents know how much you know…   you 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 fully “armed”  to go out 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 recently moved into!

Oct 28th “Get ready to have FUN on Halloween”

“This sure will scare you…”

“This sure is a  true “double exposure” … if ever I saw one!

Sometimes… you can get carried away with doing some silly stuff , like making a “costume” for Halloween, in hopes to WIN a PRIZE  and dress up or maybe even in a  crazy  ridiculous  fashion and in such a way… you would not want to be caught dead … looking so ridiculous!

Either this PHOTO is in some kind of double exposure …  or a   shadow …  just to make one give a second thought about what they are  seeing,  as I am now looking at this…  can not remember where this was… but someone wanted to take a quick photo of me…  as I do not even remember where this place is. 

When I made this out-fit … in order to go to some place that was going to give a prize for  “best” costumes ….  sure did not want something that everyone would be wearing ….  so made my own cape, hat to match cape  and that very special black gown…  and my own special black bag to match …  how do you like that small broom to fly around on???

It may not show too well ….  but I … even have a very long NOSE …. with a wart on it ….  just for a good profile , PHOTO.

The hat was also made from scratch…. with left over materials…..and just the right size to fit over my fabulous  wig.

With my dancing partner …  we were able to win a couple of prizes …. as I also made his costume ….  he was dressed  as… DRACULA ….  and could he dance up a storm!

“My wish for all… is to be able to…  DANCE UP a STORM ….  at your HALLOWEEN PARTY!”