1963
I started watching a vid on how Jackie Kennedy handled the 1963 assassination. I had told a friend a month or less ago, that I remembered being in first grad then. But now I'm realizing it would have to be 1964 that I recalled. I was in first grade, but for whatever reason we were taken to the second grade classroom, and Sister Michaela told us about how a president is like a king, but instead of being born a prince, the people get together and vote for him.
She had tiny oval lenses on her glasses, and kind of a thin straight long nose. She wore the black and white habit of the early sixties.
Photos just off Google, not mine.
The top photo on the right, with the old habit is what I remember, but the neck was trim like the bottom photo.
The shorter habit in the top photo came shortly later, the Mercy order sisters dressed that way, in both pics.
Our regular first grade nun went elsewhere, apparently, after that. We had a new substitute teacher after that, Mrs. Berg. I heard that Sr. Mary B. had gone back to her family, nothing more.
In those days I don't think we ever knew their last names, or real first names. It was usually something like Sister Mary John, or Sister Peter Margaret.
Why the nun would be telling us about presidents a year after the event, I don't know. I don't know if someone asked or what.
I told my friend I remembered this when the shooting happened, but I don't think I went into first grade a year ahead. I was saying how I wondered where she was, and there was no way to find out.
He replied, this was @ FB, I am sorry that your early life was so unhappy.
Which was kind of odd. But I figured he was right.
I have several memories of first grade, one was getting sick and my dad driving me home. One was of me eating lunch at my desk (that was how they did it, at least for first graders). One of the 7th or 8th grade girls watching over us while I guess the usual teacher took a break, came up to me and asked me if my dad was Mr. "X". My dad taught 6th, 7th & 8th grade there.
I remember pictures being taken in the school basement in the first week. A music class when I couldn't clap in rhythm with the others to save my life. The nun came over, took my hands to clap them together in time for me to show me. I don't think it worked. She seems to scowl at me like I was an idiot, or sigh in consternation, but maybe that's just me. I never did do things in time with anyone else. I had a hard time singing in tune, but only sometimes. Sometimes it came out real good.
I used to think me not remembering was because nothing happened. But I don't know how how I can remember things in detail like Mrs. Berg grabbing my arm in the playground and whispering loudly in my ear, "you're such a little girl, I'm afraid a snowflake will knock you right over!".
I didn't like being called a little girl, for some reason. Some guy said hi little girl, from across the parking lot of a grocery store, when I was walking home, and that upset me. I told my mom, and she said she didn't like it when she was younger, either.
I have other memories of first grade, like my red and black (maybe Stewart) plaid metal lunchbox.
Sr. Mary B. said that by the end of the year, if there was anyone who had not chewed on their pencil, she would give them a medal on a chain, like a St. Christopher medal. Or Our Lady the Virgin Mary or some saint.
So I didn't chew my pencil.
I also remember Mary H. explaining how to remember her German last name, a long one.
Eh, just ... randomness day I guess.
She had tiny oval lenses on her glasses, and kind of a thin straight long nose. She wore the black and white habit of the early sixties.
Photos just off Google, not mine.
The top photo on the right, with the old habit is what I remember, but the neck was trim like the bottom photo.
The shorter habit in the top photo came shortly later, the Mercy order sisters dressed that way, in both pics.
Our regular first grade nun went elsewhere, apparently, after that. We had a new substitute teacher after that, Mrs. Berg. I heard that Sr. Mary B. had gone back to her family, nothing more.
In those days I don't think we ever knew their last names, or real first names. It was usually something like Sister Mary John, or Sister Peter Margaret.
Why the nun would be telling us about presidents a year after the event, I don't know. I don't know if someone asked or what.
I told my friend I remembered this when the shooting happened, but I don't think I went into first grade a year ahead. I was saying how I wondered where she was, and there was no way to find out.
He replied, this was @ FB, I am sorry that your early life was so unhappy.
Which was kind of odd. But I figured he was right.
I have several memories of first grade, one was getting sick and my dad driving me home. One was of me eating lunch at my desk (that was how they did it, at least for first graders). One of the 7th or 8th grade girls watching over us while I guess the usual teacher took a break, came up to me and asked me if my dad was Mr. "X". My dad taught 6th, 7th & 8th grade there.
I remember pictures being taken in the school basement in the first week. A music class when I couldn't clap in rhythm with the others to save my life. The nun came over, took my hands to clap them together in time for me to show me. I don't think it worked. She seems to scowl at me like I was an idiot, or sigh in consternation, but maybe that's just me. I never did do things in time with anyone else. I had a hard time singing in tune, but only sometimes. Sometimes it came out real good.
I used to think me not remembering was because nothing happened. But I don't know how how I can remember things in detail like Mrs. Berg grabbing my arm in the playground and whispering loudly in my ear, "you're such a little girl, I'm afraid a snowflake will knock you right over!".
I didn't like being called a little girl, for some reason. Some guy said hi little girl, from across the parking lot of a grocery store, when I was walking home, and that upset me. I told my mom, and she said she didn't like it when she was younger, either.
I have other memories of first grade, like my red and black (maybe Stewart) plaid metal lunchbox.
Sr. Mary B. said that by the end of the year, if there was anyone who had not chewed on their pencil, she would give them a medal on a chain, like a St. Christopher medal. Or Our Lady the Virgin Mary or some saint.
So I didn't chew my pencil.
I also remember Mary H. explaining how to remember her German last name, a long one.
Eh, just ... randomness day I guess.