Catherine Ghostley Hartigan

Nothing compared to my son.
I remember so many things but two of the strange and funny events have crossed my mind. In January one year the school decided to give a sock hop because everyone was doing it and the more generous nuns wanted to include our school. The night was bitter cold and the super had not thought it was necessary to increase the heat. In the days before the dance the talk was about what to wear. I had found a paper dress in a dime store and bought it with nothing in particular in mind. The idea spread like wild fire for me to wear it. I had to talk to be allowed but everyone is going to do this worked. What a draft! My date was so annoyed that he said if I didn't leave soon he would set it on fire. Nothing much escaped the Sisters and I was asked about this promptly. "Where is your date?" "He is trying to meet the other girls." was my answer.

Oh, let me think. I haven't been wearing paper dresses but I have done a fair share of modeling both art and runway. I also have spent years in retail stores clerking. I lectured for a private college in California giving history of design lectures. I can think of two leaders to whom I am grateful: a genius,Tonian Hohberg CEO of FIDM, and Jacqueline Murray whose strength was domestic and international retail and marketing. I have been married and stayed at home, huswifery, as we sang in glee club.
Sister Helen Francis tried to have me memorize the 'Gettysburg Address' to deliver it at a Memorial Day celebration at a cemetery during the Viet Nam War days with dozens of vets in uniforms of the different branches. I had not done so and they thought me shy at first until they knew that I had not learned beyond the first few lines. All of a sudden a car drove into the cemetery with four St. Thomas M. Academy seniors in uniform who approached the stage to help me. Saved from a fate of humiliation again!