“Are YOU from St. Vincent’s and Remember THIS”

Oct 11th “Are YOU from St. Vincent’s and Remember THIS”

“Are ‘YOU’ in this 1947 Photo?”

This is the “Auditorium” at St.Vincent’s .

“If you are in this picture – you might be in your late – seventies or eighties?”

Here’s a help – look to the center and left of the room – do you see two “girls” – dressed alike?’ Those are the “Whitney Twins” – they have a younger sister, Phyllis Whitney – a year younger than me – and a very good friend of mine. ( Let me know where you are in this picture???)

When I first arrived here – this room would be filled with folding chairs for the families to sit together in small circles, on “Visiting Sundays” and back then… they were only once a month.

And very much later – they had “Visiting Sundays” on the second and fourth Sunday!

Maybe this change was made because my parents would come out to visit any day… and at any time – and as often as they felt like it!

We, KIDS … “LOVED” it … but I am guessing some of the NUNS didn’t.

Back then… you never wanted to contend with my “Father” when he… wanted to do things – “HIS WAY!”

Also, there would always be a NUN or two walking around and standing near some “VISITORS” … paying attention as to what they were planning to do…

And of course … that would be our family to hear what I would be telling my “Mother”.

I would be the one to tell my Mother – exactly what happened in the new environment – for me – I would always tell it just like it happened – all the details – and would get into trouble – later with the – NUNS!

On very special occasions … like a special “Feast Day of a Saint” – there would be a “movie shown in this auditorium” … which was a real treat for all the kids!

Some times – the film would break and the lights would all – go on and maybe and maybe not someone could fix the problem – and I believe we went to bed… and never got to see the movie – due to technical problems.

So, some time later … an enclosed area was built… so that the movie projector and standard set-up – was all in one place and ready and less chance for failures???

When “Television” came to the Orphanage – there was an area on the far right and near center – along that wall – looks like a radiator there – if you look closely – just enough room for a small enclosed room for that “TV” – to be built and kept under lock and key.

This was the last year… that I was there and never watch the “TV” – as I would rather be on the play-ground, and since… I had my own radio – we girls would listen to the music and dance on the “Pavilion” and that was the real – “FUN!”

I do remember some of the girls complaining that some of the shows on the “TV” would continue… week to week… but the bad part was… that the NUN would shut off the “TV” … five minutes before the end of the program.

You never ever… got to see… the very last five minutes of any program.

I just never ever got the real need… to want to watch something good … and … that you would never ever… get to know the ending of?