Sneaking into town in 1965 before Xmas

I remember sneaking into town before Christmas to buy cigarettes for the trip home on the chartered bus to NY. I know it was Gal, myself, Steve Maloney, Gabe, and another classmate I forget his name. We got caught by Bruder and got “U’s” in conduct on our reports. Actually the guy whose name I forget ratted us all out. It was like the great escape. We ducked into the trees every time we saw a car’s lights.

Black Ice

One of our favorite winter sports was ice hockey. I remember being packed in the back of large pick up trick fully dressed for the sub freezing temperatures, but not especially enjoying the wind chill from the open air ride. We were headed to Silver Lake (?) outside of Pittsfield, which we did frequently. Our experience told us to bring shovels. We spent the first hour clearing the snow off of the frozen lake, before we could get down to serious fun. A few times we arrived to find the lake frozen over, but with very little snow on it. I remember sailing across the lake on our ice skates with our backs to a stiff wind. All you had to do was stand up straight and hold out your hands (think of Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet on the bow of the Titantic — you get the idea). It was quite a ride, but it took all of our strength to skate up wind to get back to the truck.

Once, when we got to the lake, we found it frozen solid, with absolutely no snow on it. It had frozen in absolute stillness. The surface was as smooth as glass, and unfortunately, as clear as glass. Black ice. Near the shallow end of the lake you could easily see the bottom and all of the sea weed frozen in place. It was a very distracting surface as you stared down at a black hockey puck. It was also unnerving as your mind began to question whether the lake was frozen enough to skate on. It was. I don’t remember if we won or lost the hockey game that day, but I’ll never forget the Black Ice.

The memory wheels turn...

Reading about so many wonderful comments about BJT reminded me of our friendship and how he was the perfect example of the pious monk to me embracing all of his vows as his chosen way of life. I’m sure he has earned his seat of distinction now.

I was always amazed at his ability to climb the 30 foot step ladder to the top of the gym ceiling to change light bulbs without fear of falling. I would quake and sweat after a mere 10 feet. I remember him telling me to put the height out of my mind by saying a prayer on the way up. I don’t know if that served as a distraction from the height or as a devine safety measure. He would also say “the only thing you need to fear while on a ladder is your yourself” If you’re afraid it will make you shake the ladder unintentionally and perhaps cause yourself to fall. I use his philosophy even to this day while climbing tall ladders around the house.

Remember in chemistry class 1974 when the hydrogran experiments blew up sending glass all about. I think it was Fred Ramsey that got glass in his eye or face. Oh what hubbub over that!

Remember when someone jurry rigged the head table where Father Krah sat in the refectory to collapse with all the food onto the floor. Oh was he mad. I think he lost more hair that day.

How about going around selling candy bars to make money for the school. I felt so cool about going up to especially old people’s houses saying that I was studying to be a priest. I would work up my best angelic expression to get them to buy. I’m sure the Lord did not look kindly upon my deception and it has been added to my “list”.

Some of the most peaceful times in my life so far were indeed at the school. The special Christmas service with the beautiful decorations and pageantry. The great music that many of us contributed over the years with our guitars, voices and the organ.

I can remember sitting next to the wall in front of the school (facing the socker fields) on a warm Spring day with the sun shining on my face, the birds singing, a gentle breeze blowing and the Gorgeous Berkshires in full view. God was with me that day.

This has been fun, thanks guys.

Where were you when...

We were nearing the end of the football season. We played “flag” football, no tackling (at least not according to the rules). I remember Pat Houterman running with the ball and using his free hand in a nifty swing motion to prevent an opponent from pulling the flag tucked into the back of his jeans. It was 1963 and my team was 0 and 10, and I remember Tony Bruder saying that we couldn’t lose them all. Boy did we prove him wrong! Anyway, we were walking back up the hill to Bellefontaine after a football game on November 22, when a visibly shaken Fr. Lanphier came running down towards us. He told us that President Kennedy had just been shot.

Student/Faculty Games

Is it me or do I really recall that as various annual student/faculty games approached, we were sure to experience serendipitous visits by some far-flung members of the order who in the not-too-distant past seemed to have played the sport at a semi-pro level?

Late Nite Rides for Shiltz

It’s time to log in a memory or two. Taking the late nite runs to the NY border to get a 12 pack of Shiltz with Read and Keenan. The ride back with Read in his fathers Chrysler Newport, airbourne coming back on those back roads through the Berks. I still have night mares. Then we would stop at a site high above the Stockbridge bowl to releave ourselves, of course I always claimed I could reach the water. Occassionally Bob Hess would scout us out in his Falcon to make sure we didn’t kill ourselves.

Sisters' Day Off

The hiring of Mario Tristany has an interesting story. At that time a scandal had developed in Europe involving the assignment of duties to nuns in convents. It seems that women from third world countries were assigned menial duties in order to serve the nuns from the more properous countries. This must have got the fathers thinking because the sisters at the school were working every day, long hours. So Mr. Tristany was hired to do the cooking on Thursday, so the sisters could have a day off. Also Sunday dinner consisted of leftovers and cold cuts in the evening so they had Sunday afternoon off. Right after this system started Fr. Mcquire went down to the convent to see how they were enjoying their day off. Apparently the sisters had brought a lot of the laundry down to the convent so they could keep working. Well Father Mcquire was not too happy with that so he scheduled recreational activities for the sisters after that. For example, he would have them driven to the movies. I was given the job of teaching them English.

A Mrs Dyer was also hired as school dietician. The quality of the food did improve under her jurisdiction. She also baked fresh rolls on an almost daily basis. I often had the job of pot scrubber along with Hugh Carty in the scullery. When Mrs. Dyer was baking she often had the pot scrubbers sample her baked goods.

Fr. Hudson

In a school full of excellent teachers Fr. Hudson was outstanding. In 63-67 he taught all the math: Algebra, Geometry, and Trig. It was a math curriculum more compehensive than the 4 year one offered in most high schools today. Almost every class Fr. Hudson would say, “Mathematics was the only pure science and was the queen of sciences.” He not only could teach you math like no one else could, he would show you how to pay homage to the queen.

paying homage

I’m told that I have not paid enough respect to George Nestler and his quarterbacking abilities. Although good he was strictly a uni-sport guy. And if you are a 66 grad you must attend this function in May.

Father MacDonald

Does anyone know if Father MacDonald can still shoot that 30 foot letfhanded hook shot from the corner?