DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME?

Did I ever tell you about the time I rolled over a nun's foot?  

It was right after I started taking classes at Fontbonne University. The sister was dressed old school. She looked about one-hundred years old. I was backing up. The whole incident is a horrifying blur.  All I remember is one minute I was backing up with no one behind me (or so I thought.) The next thing I knew I'd run over the scary, stern-faced nun's foot.

I was not Catholic, but I was positive rolling over a nun's foot meant " send her straight to Hell." I heard God giving the order in my head.  When I called one of my friends, later that day, he thought the entire incident was hilarious. He tried to convince me I was not going to end up in Hell. I was not buying it.

Where was that rearview mirror that my cousin had given me and attached to the side of my chair? Oh, I  remember now, I'd sideswiped it off. Don't ask me how. That's a blur too

I kept repeating over and over how sorry I was. The sister, even though I'm sure her foot was throbbing, ended up consoling me. After that, she always smiled whenever she saw me. We had a special connection. Who knew bonding over a foot was possible?

Did I ever tell you about the time I was late for prayer?. 

The secretary in student services assisted me to the bathroom during the day. The restroom was across the hall from her office. There is no other way to say it. Mrs. Crowe( the sweetest, funniest lady on the planet) forgot me. She just got busy. By the time she remembered, I had two minutes to get to class. 

I got to the door of the classroom. Sister Agnes saw me and opened the door. It was clear to me I had missed the prayer. My class in special education had started. I was not getting a teaching degree. I took the class because I wanted to have the experience of having a nun as my instructor. 

I was taught by the best, Sister Anges Cecile. That day when I missed the prayer before class, however, Sister Agnes was not happy with me. She didn't say anything, but the look she gave me told me to never let it happen again. I didn't.

Did I ever tell you about the time?

I went to mass in the chapel with  Mrs.Crowe. No one else was wanted to go with her. I was as always eager to go. The all-marble chapel was calming and peaceful. I received ashes for the first time on Ash Wednesday in the chapel at Fontbonne. It was a beautiful experience. The priest, Father Jack, always took the time to talk to us.

Did I ever tell you about the time?

We partied at Fontbonne the night before graduation. It was after a mass for the graduating class. I did a lot of chair-dancing that night. Kool And The Gang's song Celebration takes me right back to that night in May of 1981. A right celebrating our achievements, friendships, and the beginning of the next chapter of our lives.

Did I ever tell you about the time?

Sister Agnes Cecile and Sister Rose-Genevieve came for lunch. I'd grown very fond of Sister Agnes Cecile. I will always be grateful to her for being the one who told me that if I struggled with math the way I'd described to her I probably had a learning disability. I was not just stupid.

I begged my mom to let me invite Sister Agnes to lunch. She told me we were not Catholic. I told her how cool Sister Agnes was. Mom frantically called a friend who was Catholic. The conversation was something like this./ She wants to have nuns over for lunch. What do I serve? Mom's friend assured her that nuns were just like anyone else. She could serve them whatever she'd serve to anyone coming over for lunch.

The big day arrived. Sister Agness and her friend, Sister Rose Genevieve came. We sat in the living room. My mom served Fritos (We were so classy in the '80s) and wine before lunch. When she asked the sisters if they'd like some wine Sister Anges looked at me and asked, "Are you having wine?' I told her that I was. "Well then, I think we'll have some too." Sister Agness replied.

There was a Nigerian princess in my class at Fontbonne. She was also at GWB with me too. Sister Agnes told stories of when her father came to visit her in all of his "regalia." It was a fun and memorable afternoon.

Sister Agness and I stayed in contact for many years. My time at Fontbonne holds a special place in my heart. The faculty and students accepted me. Nuns weren't to be feared. They were kind, caring people.. Sister Agnes and the rest of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet taught me our religions were more similar than they were different.

When I think of Fontboone I think of how a home I felt. The friends I made. One word describes Fontbonne University.

Acceptance.