Peggy Ahern:  

I arrived at St Germain's the day after Thanksgiving, November 27th 1959. After 50 years, My memories are like river rock, worn down by the passage of time. Some stand out... others lie buried under the sand. And once in awhile the current uncovers a stone, revealing a muddy image of long ago. My thanks comes easily to the nuns, staff ,and of course the girls I grew with over those years. They all gave more than they knew as we shared that personal fragile and unstable time. all strengthening the structure of who I came to be. I was placed in St Bernadette's Group, on the top floor under the dormers. My group mother was Mother Sheila, I was a small skinny girl with stringy blonde hair and freckles, and felt very alone and really scared. I think some of the first girls I met were Nivia F. Marylou M. Barbara V. Linda V.Sandra P. It wasn't long before I was one of the girls. We were all in the same boat. . Carol Y and I were in the same ballet class, she was bright, cheerful and very kind. (I remember her as a redhead) Because of her easy willingness to help out..Carol was one Mother Good Counsel's helpers. (the girl worked!) Janet G.stood out brcause of her sad eyes. In the beginning, she was a shy, introverted girl, Very sweet, and quietly proud of her Green (at that time) Ribbon..Janet and I have exchanged e-mails lately...She ain't so introverted now.. but still sweet and caring. One of my most vivid memories are of a group walk with Mother Rose of Lima. 10 of us ran away, some got off the property and were gone for days. I never reached the wall (no athlete here!) and to this day I can still see the hurt on Mothers Rose's face. She was newly professed, and after this incident she lost all confidence, and doubted herself for a long time...I am so sorry Mother. I remember watching a basketball game in the gym...cheering the team on..... Extra, extra read all about it..we got a team there's no doubt about it... Ethel, Ethel, she;s our man..if she can't do it no one can.. goooo Mt Florence... ....when the bleachers collapsed beneath us. No, no one one was hurt, but ooh the drama. We smoked three cigarettes a day (Pall Mall) went to Mass every Sunday, all Holy Days of Obligation, and Feast Days. I became a lifeguard on the lake, sang campfire songs at Camp Akenac : We welcome you to camp akenac, we,re mighty glad your here.. We'll set the air reverberating with a might cheer.. we'll sing you in, we'll sing you out.. you we give a mighty shout.. so it's hail, hail, the gang's all here.. and it's welcome to Camp Akenac Ate hot dogs and hamburgers in the "Long House" with Mother Good Counsel, In a cabin by the woods--- (Make peak of cabin with fingers)---a little old man by the window stood--- (make circle with fingers around eyes to imitate glasses..careful of contacts)---. saw a rabbit running by--- (use two fingers to imitate rabbit ears .no, no..two fingers )---. knocking at my door--- ( knock on chest...careful of pacemaker)---Help me, Help me, Help he cried---( raise both hands in sign of distress (very painful with arthritis)--- or the hunter shoot me dead--- (use both hands to iimitate a rifle then tilt head to side, stick out tounge in corner of mouth and roll eyes to appear shot.. this is not attractive.. do it quickly. ! ---little rabbit come inside---(use index finger in beckoning motion) ---safely you'll abide---use fingers of right had to gently rub top of left to imitate petting the frightened rabbit!. And I learned ballet from Miss-Betty-who-was-once-a-Rockett-at-Radio-City-Music-Hall, and danced to "Babes in Toyland" with Carol Y (she did the solo)Saw the Teacher Miss Beatty almost faint with Joy when JFK became President I remember the campaign pin she wore... "Mamie start packing, the Kennedy's are coming"... And watched terrrible movies on Sunday nights. I eventually earned a green ribbon.....yay I loved that Chapel designed as a Cross. Mothers on one side, girls on another Sisters of Mary Magdalene (what ever happened to them anyway?) on another . The Sacrament ,and Father Stanislaus (God rest his soul) in the top part of the cross... The Mass was in Latin, and we all wore Chapel veils. I remember at Christmas, each girl was urged to take a piece of straw from the Manger. The intention was to always carry the straw with you when you left St. Germains, and if you were ever in trouble you were to mail the straw back to them, and they would......? what? (I always envisioned a thundering herd of nuns on horseback.swooping through Brooklyn, clutching their silver hearts to their chest , Rosary Beads flying.., saving someone from.... whatever it was they needed saving from) I really never knew what they were going to do about that returned piece of straw...Pray I supose... To Mother Sheila..I don't think I ever said thank you for all you've done. You've instilled in me a sense of confidence and self respect and gave me the ability to release the negative to embrase the positive. Your words of guidance and encourgment prepared me well for the years to come. Today, I really like who I am. Your a kind and beautiful spirit ,Thank you so much for everything.. And Thank God for sending you It needs to be said....My memories are muddy.... I'm sometimes confused, and I tend to drift..........I make no apologies or excuses..... This is a time I remember at a distance of over 50 years.... and these are my memories....for now One sees the past better than it was. One finds the present worse than it is i. One hopes for a future happier than it will be. Madam d'Epinay 1758 Life didn't always go well after Mt. Florence..at times it was pretty bad... Actually, It was pretty bad pretty often!. For over 10 years I struggled with alcoholism. It was a long and difficult road before I reached higher ground. Then the man I once loved for what seemed like forever, left me for his best friend's wife...no, no ,don't feel bad..She truly deserved him.!!! I wore myself out trying to recover the lost years, When I finally realized it couldn't be done, I settled into a safe but dull routine. Oprah pulled me ...Expand for more