Thank you, Miss Creighton (aka Mrs. Perrone)

There are those teachers who made an indelible mark on your educational career--some for the better, others for the worse.  I've been fortunate to have more of the former than the latter.  Lately, I've been revisiting memories of Miss Sheila Creighton (aka Mrs. Perrone) and the class I was extremely lucky to take from her at Notre Dame High School for Girls in Chicago.  

 The class was U.S. History.  Miss Creighton had the highest standards of about any teacher at NDHS.  It was lecture with sidebars where she shared her extensive knowledge of the subject.  She outlined her presentation on the blackboard and it was a challenge to keep up with her.  I loved it, especially when we studied the US Constitution and the branches of government.  

 Any surprise those memories have been popping up?

 Many reasons currently exist to question what the hell is going on in our government these days.  Recalling what I learned about the Constitution from Miss Creighton has actually been a balm on those days when I want to throw open my windows and shout that I am mad as hell and not going to take it any more.  If Sheila was around, I can envision her standing in front of the class, pointing her well worn down piece of chalk at us, and challenging us to explain how the Constitution defends multiple actions of the current occupant of the White House.  If we attempted to do so, she would have failed us.

 (I think I got As in US History, at least a B+ and damn, I worked overtime for those grades.)

 Today I listened to the Al Franken Podcast.  I recognize that he is a polarizing figure for some.  I enjoy his podcasts, especially because he has on extraordinarily knowledgeable guests, from politics rather than the entertainment industry. His guest today was Elizabeth Drew who covered Watergate.  She recently wrote an opinion piece for the New York Times about the current impeachment inquiry.  The point she made most stridently (or so I thought) in the podcast was that the reason why POTUS should be held accountable for his actions is for posterity.  

 That struck a chord and brought me back to NDHS and Miss Creighton's classroom.  We had to memorize and recite the Preamble to the Constitution, which states:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

 I was feeling extremely low about the state of affairs, beginning to believe that no matter what information was uncovered, nothing would change.  These two things today have lifted me at least somewhat from my malaise:

Lindsey Graham: https://www.foxnews.com/media/lindsey-graham-worst-nightmare-syria
Sheila Creighton Perrone.  She instilled in me a belief in the sacredness of the US Constitution.  I believe, eventually, defense of the US Constitution by its legislative and judicial branches will prevail.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What a Difference a Year Makes

Image
  A year ago, we had sold our Minnetonka home and were awaiting closing. We were wintering in Florida.  We were hoping to find a new home (single level living) before we returned to Minnesota. Alas, the hope was misplaced, given the lack of inventory.  During the past year, I learned that:    About 14 million mortgage borrowers refinanced their homes between 2020 and 2021. Rates were at all-time lows during the pandemic, sinking as low as 2.65%. Given that mortgage rates are now in the high 6 to high 7 percent, more owners, even those who had an interest in moving, were hesitant to give up their historically low (probably never to be seen again) rates.  To whit: lack of inventory. I've previously chronicled how emotionally difficult the move ended up being, far surpassing what I anticipated and hanging on longer than I bargained for. We moved into an apartment, and I'll admit that this past summer, it felt pretty good.  Our entire family, grandchildren...
Read more

Wrap It Up and Put A Bow On It

Image
  A few of the local trees are beginning to show the first inklings of fall, leaves fading from green to early shades of yellow.  And it smells like late summer--a distinctive smell I recall from childhood, a scent that followed me home from school on those first few weeks when you raced home in a hurry to change out of the Catholic School uniform into shorts because it was still warm and light enough to play outside until dinner.  The shadows on our deck are growing longer.  The squirrels scamper around with nuts tucked between their jaws.   Yep, it's time to wrap summer up and put a bow on it. We had such a blissful summer, leisurely hours spent with those we love, wedding celebrations for family and friends, reunions and reconnections, time spent on the road and in the air.  Primarily for myself, but also for your reading pleasure, I thought I'd recap May through August. Following our return drive from Florida April 28, we flew to Chicago for the we...
Read more

Cro-A-Ti-A Day 7

Image
                                                                             The Final Kastela Yesterday My Friend Jeanie, bonus grands Eleanor and MaggieRose, McB and John and I started at Kastel Gomilice, then headed out down what, for the other 6 Kastelas, is a seaside path to Kastel Sucurac. It was not meant to be. Turns out past Kastel Gomilice there is a large harbor area so that the path ends and it's up to the busy street to make your way to Sucurac.  A hot, not so shady, very unscenic busy street.   Proof that we found Sucurac. Bonus Grand Eleanor, me, My Friend Jeanie, Bonus Grand/Goddaughter MaggieRose We looked, in vain, for a street that would lead away from said street back to the seaside.  When we finally found what appeared t...
Read more