Cpl Vick Burk got one of those emails/letters that warm a Teacher's heart and lets them know they made a difference. And it got me to thinking about my favorite Teacher, who also was a Nun: Sister Mary Gertrude. Oh sure there were others too: Sister Mary St. John, Sister Mary Vanita. In the picture I posted was Sister Mary St. Richard...and she really was a disciplinarian. Any DI would have been proud of her methods.
But Sister Mary Gertrude....I had her for four - of my first six years in school. Back then, nobody knew much about being Autistic ...but somehow, she knew to put me out in the Hallway with a whole stack of books, and that way I learned and the other kids didn't have to put with my behavior.
I won a couple medals and stuff in Grade School and even got to meet the Mayor of Cleveland once. And Sister Mary Gertrude took me to that fancy dinner because my Dad had a heart attack and was in the Hospital, and my family couldn't spare anyone to go with me. So she took me.
When I got married, I drove to Ohio from Texas, so she could meet my Bride- Kathy. When we had our first Child, well, we drove back up so she could hold her. And then when we were in Kentucky when our youngest was born. So we scooted up to Ohio so she could hold her too.
On her 90th Birthday I took her to the Brown Derby with two of her companions. And when she got sick, at 97...I visited her for the last time.
I am skipping over how many things she taught me, or helped me overcome...but like Cpl Vick, she made a difference.
God Bless all you Teachers who never knew what you meant to us.
Education was just part of it.