The BANDROOM where we did our plays, accepted visitors, and how I waited for six years for some family to visit me.  After many years I accepted the fact that I would not have any visitors, so I volunteered to answer the phone for those who did.  The PLAYS - Senorita, the Cinderella Story.  I remember the song "In my own little corner, in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be ..." and The Pinafore "I am the captain of the Pinafore and a right good captain too ..."  GORETTI, MAGNIFICAT, LITTLE FLOWER.  The BIG HOUSE and LITTLE HOUSE of the high school girls across from SETON HALL where the boys lived.   NIDIA CANCEL waiting for ROBERT DIAZ in the gazebo.

 Participating in a fundraiser by sending out red paper bricks so we could build a ramp between the living quarters and the dining room and be able to get across it in the winter when the snow was up to our knees.   How the nuns wouldn't let us see the end of the Ozzie and Harriet Show when RICKY NELSON "rolled his eyes" (so we always had a lookout!).  I remember always getting doses of MOM (milk of magnesia) whenever I had a stomachache.   HOT CHOCOLATE the night before Christmas.   SINGING IRISH SONGS and staying outside even when it was bitter cold. We had to have RECREATION.

The 6:00 PM BENEDICTION BELL.  When Maria Agosto fell over the red bike.  The CONSTRUCTION OF THE SWIMMING POOL and someone losing their tissue paper (used to stuff our bras!).

The CANTEEN and LOUIS MARCHENA dancing.  Having to Waltz with EDDIE POLK (he was fine! and a good singer too).   Coming from CHAPEL on Sunday mornings racing to get to the frying pans just to learn that they were hidden.  FR. OLIVERIO, my rock, my most favorite person and MARGARET McGRAFF being totally taken by him (she thought it was love!).  I remember when he wore the plaid red and blue shirt and showed us how to play softball.  Playing BASKETBALL against LAKESIDE and when we were winning with only seconds to go I would be put in.  NIDIA was a champ as was VANESSA HICKS.  MRS. RAMSEY making our favorite meal for our birthday, southern fried chicken, French fries, a cake from scratch, vanilla ice cream and no green vegetables! FRYING BOLOGNA when we had cold cuts.

MRS. AINSWORTH "GIGI" and her turquoise convertible taking us for rides and to the movies on Friday nights.  MR. CONNOLLY's penmanship lessons every Tuesday:  Aa, Bb, About, Abroad, Afraid, Across.  Writing a LETTER TO SANTA and one to DEAR FRIEND.  The curly-haired doll given by the telephone company.  My visit with my foster parents and sitting on the telephone books in their formal dining room.  Buying a dress and shoes for EASTER from ROBERT HALL CLOTHING STORE.  The LARGE SAFETY PIN that we used to gather the mesh bag where we put our dirty laundry.  The STOLEN KISSES by the LAUNDRY ROOM.  Going BOOT SKATING at the nearby pond when we couldn't afford ice skates (there's a development there now).  The dances: THE GRIND at Seton Hall when the nuns said, "Make room for the Holy Ghost!"  SR. BRIDGET making sure that a dime could bounce from the bed.  SR. ALEXANDER'S smile and how she thought so much of my sister, Rosa.

The GARDEN with tomatoes, rhubarb and other fresh vegetables.  Wearing a MANTILLA on my head (black lace circle) for Chapel.  The CHRISTMAS PAGEANT and being in the CHOIR.  Ironing my white pleated skirt.  The GREEN UNIFORM, white blouse and brown & white Oxfords we wore to school.  MR. YOUNG, the chauffeur, in the brown station wagon with the wood panel siding.  MRS. AVALON - all the make up she wore: arched eyebrows and thick lipstick covering her small lips.  St. Agatha's phone number: NA3-3461.   Getting in trouble for saying, "MO GOT YA!"   MARCIA WILSON coming on the bus with me when she lived with THE GRIMALDIS to spend the night after school.   MARIA AGOSTO'S green "pleather" coat which she thought was so cool. (Note from Maria Agosto: hey, pleather was "cool" and I looked cute - I wore that coat until the pleather cracked!)

SNEAKING INTO THE WOODS to smoke MARLBORO CIGARETTES before age 16. One day Sister asked if we knew of anyone smoking and we said "No!" and Sister replied, "Blanca, let me introduce you to Maria.  Maria, let me introduce you to Blanca."  Cigarettes were only 35 cents!  I remember learning how to use a phone and getting a job at LEDERLE'S.  We went to CHURCH every Sunday and learned HYMNS.  We even learned SONGS IN LATIN.

I remember graduating from 8th grade and trying to lower my sleeves - that was a no-no.  I made my own prom dress - it was pink brocade with a low plunge neckline and it cost me seven dollars.  The other girls had thirty dollar dresses from their parents, whereas I made my own in HOME ECONOMICS.

Yes, there were good times, but I remember the not-so-good more.  We had three square meals a day and snacks, but we couldn't choose what we ate or how much.  I remember so much more, but mostly I remember the pain of not being with my family until I was twelve and then I didn't know how to be part of a family.  That's when my mother died and then I had PARLOR.  I was taken out of St. Agatha only to be returned.  I was going home for good - NOT - I went back until I went to a foster family in NANUET on the borderline of PEARL RIVER. (AgaLinks 2000)

MARIA SANTIAGO
Little Flower/Goretti/Magnificat
HS Girls Big House/HS Girls Little House (1953-1964)