Brass Knuckles

[jsiegman]

Back in seventh grade, Sister Suniva knew one things that people liked -- they like to be read to so she tried to work in at least one or two periods each week where she would read a book aloud.

One of the books she chose was Brass Knuckles by Rev. O'Brien.

I remember enjoying that book but I could not remember how it ended -- okay, okay, so I knew it ended with everyone triumphing over their problems, I mean I didn't remember how it got there.

Aboiut 10 years ago I started trying to locate a copy of the book. Book sstores, new and used, didn't have it in any of their catalogs or listings. Libraries didn't seem to have heard of it either. Eventually, Amazon got big enough that a listing for the book showed up but there never seemed to be any for sale. About a month ago, I found one for sale on Amazon, for about $159. After recovering from sticker shock, I decided it was time to give the library a serious challenge. Now that I had complete information (from the Amazon listing) I figured they had half a chance. It took them about 2 weeks but they llocated a copy in an out-of-state library that was available to them and thus to me for a $3 shipping fee. Done !

I finished it last night and enjoyed it every bit as much as I did the first time I heard it from Sister Suniva.

And now I know how the main character overcomes his temptations and achieves salvation in the end.

Anyone else ever hear of this one?

JKS

[ncjohn]

Nope, it's a new one on me. Might have to see if I can track down a copy. Maybe Bookfinder can give me a lead.

John
 

[Lana]

Nope, and i have only "heard" that nuns were teachers in the past.

Missed the whole bit of them little penguins leadin and misleadin the herd.

Lana

[jsiegman]

Sister Suniva wasn't your standard nun. She was probably close to 6 foot talll and very healthy. Can't even begin to guess her age although she had to be at least her late 30s and more probalbly pushing 45-50 when I had her in seventh grade. She hailed from Maine and was known for being extremely tough. The first time my Dad shook her hand, he came aware shaking it from her incredibly firm grip -- and that surprised him because he had a rather strong grip himself. She taught seventh grade and was a natural to be in charge of the patrol boys. Her assignment prior to our school was at a high school boys military academy. I believe she filled the role of a drill seargent. That doesn't surprise me at all.

I had nuns for 5 or 6  of my 8 grade school years -- don't quite remember every year. The other most memorable nun was our principal, Sister Claire James. Short and plump, she wore her rosary on one side of her belt and the dreaded paddle on the other. All she had to do was touch the handle and the response from the students was instant and complete. It was applied to someone's rear end but that was on very rare occasions. Just the threat of the paddle was more than enough to keep everyone in line, both literally and figuratively.

Yup, nuns did teach school -- and I had them for 8 years. Even in the grades where I was assigned to a lay teacher as homeroom, the nuns still came in for religious ed and a couple other subjects. Yes, they did wear black leather shoes with huge padded soles to accomodate long days on their feet teaching. My only regret is that I couldn't afford to give Eric and Alex the same experience. I think it did me a lot of good and feel it would have been good for them too.

JKS

[reen]

quote: Lana
Missed the whole bit of them little penguins leadin and misleadin the herd.

Never heard it expressed in quite that way but it sure covers the field.
The sisters taught me from kindergarten right through college.
I was thinking of something that a Gestalt psychiatrist once wrote:
"Express appreciation to the person you are angry with."
I suppose that this helps one to gain a sense of proportion.
What would I not "be" now, if it hadn't been for the sisters?

They taught me to work quietly and with care.
They taught me to listen to and follow instruction.
They demanded high performance and they were
always prepared for class.
They gave a lot of homework, from the 7th grade forward,
which prepared me for the fact that life was not all playtime and recess.
They were a no-nonsense group of women. There
was work to do, and by God, you were going to do that work.
Again, this prepared me for some of the hard realities of life.

But most of all, they taught me the meaning of sacred,
of reverence for the holy, and I am grateful to them.


reen



 
 

[Lana]

"Express appreciation to the person you are angry with."
I suppose that this helps one to gain a sense of proportion.
What would I not "be" now, if it hadn't been for the sisters?


Hmmmm, i could use this in a lot of cases, but i guess it is a true fact
that there is always something good that comes from bad experiences.
There is always something to learn, even when we feel there is not.

I had only one teacher be mean to me before highschool, and that is good.
She threatened me so often, i became terrified of her. It did not help it being
an open concep school, and my brother re-telling me everything i had
gotten in trouble for. This was then told to Da when we got home (ouch).
My hero, disapointed in me...so i learned to simply withdraw and say nothing.
It eventually came out...yep...on my bed sheets. Grade two horrors!

Of course my Da came to my rescue, and reashured me of not being disapointed.
And made me face the teacher with him to clear this up. Done, wa-la!

My Da has often been mistaken for a picture in my home of his sister, "Sister Lucy!"
She was not ver feminine looking, so her picture in full habbit looked like Da in drag!
LOL...add pop bottle glasses, and remove his mustache...LOL

"Sister boy shoulda stuck around"

ok, i just spit my tea onto my desk laughing...


Lana

[reen]

quote: Lana
She was not ver feminine looking, so her picture in full habbit looked like Da in drag!


  Why am I laughing. That's awful.

 


 

[Lana]

quote: Lana
She was not ver feminine looking, so her picture in full habbit looked like Da in drag!


  Why am I laughing. That's awful.

 


 

never could stop many from laughing seeing the picture....

Her real name was Margaret Forrest...Da and his mom were the only out of the family
to refuse to anglosize it by adding another r in Forest. Margaret loved her habbit, and once it was removed, she died within a year afterwards. She was completely broken hearted from the change.
She loved her habbit, and respected and honored it. She felt like she was no longer a nun
because she was stripped of her uniform. She was known to be in constant tearfullness.
I never got to meet her, but took her name Margaret for my confirmation name.

I hope i have learned her adoration of rank and reverence in the habbit, and still miss it myself.

Lana