The Life Box (Part 31)

Suburban Chicago, 1965. Our grade-school art class encouraged seasonal drawings.

Patience

Suburban Chicago, June 1966. Our Lithuanian-School class waits for the speeches to end. We're in the school's basement again.

Back to School

Sacred Heart School, Melrose Park, Illinois, 1967. Don't worry; it will be great to see the gang.

The Life Box (Part 30)

Suburban Chicago, about 1964. I believe Dr. Seuss inspired me.

Talent Show

Sacred Heart School Melrose Park, Illinois, June 1972. Most of the girls from the eighth-grade class participated in the show. We're standing on the stage of Marian Hall.

Patience

Sacred Heart School, Melrose Park, Illinois, Spring 1967. My third-grade teacher tolerates the class crush.

Ah, Recess

Sacred Heart School, Melrose Park, Illinois, May 1967. It looks like we're playing "Red Rover."

"We're as busy as bees!"

Sacred Heart School, Melrose Park, Illinois, Spring 1967. This is my third-grade teacher. She was the subject of the "class crush."

I love the crisp, cotton, shirt dress, its Peter Pan collar, and the pintuck pleats. Doesn't the dress make you think "starch"?

Graduation Dance

Oak Park, Illinois, June 1972. Most of the eighth-grade girls wore floor-length dresses.

A Favorite Pastor

Suburban Chicago, about 1967. He always carried a lit cigar, and the children loved him.

The New Principal

Suburban Chicago, about 1966. After my favorite grade-school principal got reassigned to a different post, this sister took over the leadership role. I remember her as a stern, but fair and quiet, person.

(Here she is in post-Vatican II habit.)

Puzzled

Suburban Chicago, 1965. The sister on the left is Sister Margo, my beloved second-grade teacher.

The Life Box (Part 27)

Suburban Chicago, December 1963. The grade school encouraged us to craft greetings with religious themes.

Christmas Manners: Know your lines.

Suburban Chicago, December 1964. Santa won't hand over a gift unless you recite a poem.

Christmas Manners: Feign delight.

Suburban Chicago, December 1964. You know he's fake, but he did bring gifts.

Christmas Manners: Dance with Santa

Suburban Chicago, December 1964. The children from our Lithuanian school join in another round of "Jurgelis Meistrelis." I'm the girl with the eyeglasses; my friend Kris wears a plaid skirt and faces the camera.

The Life Box (Part 25)

Suburban Chicago, November 1965. Someone else had a hand in this.

A Seasonal Event

Suburban Chicago, October 1971. I'm hosting a costume party; we're in the Rec Room.

The kid with the camera is always popular.

Springfield, Illinois, June 1972. Most found the museum shop more interesting than than Lincoln home.

I recall most girls wore "culottes" on this field trip.

Headed Home

Central Illinois, June 1972. We've finished the field-trip dinner, and we board the buses.

You've seen the chaperon earlier here. The adult with her back to the lens is one of the mod nuns.