Tomorrow is Bec and Lane's anniversary, so I want to wish them a happy day.  They are all so excited out there because they'll be heading off to visit with Joey and Josh and his family in Denver.  We pray for a safe trip and a fun-filled visit with the Colorado group of Millers.

When I got back here, I checked my e-mails and had a notice from one of the sites I joined for Seniors.  This one has groups and one that I joined has to do with having attended a Catholic school, and, of course, having dealt with NUNS.  So often, I hear people talk about how mean or how strict or how unforgiving the nuns were, but I honestly never experienced that.  Well, actually, once (I wrote about that in a previous post, so I won't go into it again--keywords:  falling crib set) I did, but that was taken care of by my teacher at the time.

In those days, we had no lay teachers, and the nuns we had were women we had known since we were little--we had more or less the same ones each year, perhaps not in our grade, but in the school.  In fact, it was a big game at the end of summer to try to get info as to which nuns were returning and which ones had been transferred.  It didn't take much to get us excited, believe me!

There were some nuns who had "less than pleasant" personalities, but they were usually good teachers and, as I often reminded my own students, teachers were plain old humans BEFORE they became teachers, with all the personality traits that go along with that.  We just knew when we had to be more careful with our behavior in those classes.  I personally never had a problem with that.

At the beginning of each year, the nuns would call some of us to help them get the school ready for the coming semester.  Yes, the NUNS did the work, with help from our little group of kids.  They didn't have janitors paid for that; WE helped THEM--and that included everything from mopping the floors, applying wax--and buffing--all the floors in all the classroom, dusting everything, arranging desks in the classrooms, putting out all the books, and just anything that had to be done.  Our reward was always--OK, ready for this--grapefruit juice and cookies.  YUCK!  We hated that, but we would never tell them anything.  When we got older, I don't know if it's because they figured it out or what, but we actually were given ice cream several times.  MUCH BETTER!

When I think of my elementary school years and the wonderful nuns I had, I am so grateful.  I loved them and I even wanted to be one of them (I entered the convent to study, but I didn't remain long--God had other plans for me, like a husband and seven kids), and these nuns remained my FRIENDS long after I graduated from high school.  I was especially close to one of them, who eventually left the order.

This nun, after she left the order, did not return to Lockport.  I think she just felt--well, I'm not sure what she felt--but she wouldn't come back even to visit; however, the night before Sid and I got married, she came over to visit with us.  I was so grateful for that visit, mainly because I knew how difficult that was for her; the only other time I remember her coming to Lockport after she left the order was to attend the wake of my little sister, Janet, who was killed in an auto accident.  I know that was hard for her to do, but she did it for me and my family--THOSE are the kinds of nuns I had in my life!  For each of them, I thank God!

Well, enough of my memories about the nuns--today was another typical day here in Louisiana--threatening rains, thunder, little showers--just enough to keep us away from mowing.  We'll have to try again later--

I forgot to give a report on Mis' Dot's nephew-in-law; he had triple by-pass surgery last week and is doing very well.  Of course, his wife says he really isn't a good patient, but I guess that was to be expected.  He apparently is not one to be quiet, and sometimes, that kind of patient just doesn't cooperate very much.  He's doing fine, though, and that's what's important.  Thanks for your prayers.

Tomorrow, I head back to Lockport, so I may or may not get to my computer for several days.  In any case, have a great evening; hope the rest of your week is fun-filled and productive.

"Man is most uniquely human when he turns obstacles into opportunities."                              --Bertold Brecht