How could such a sweet, innocent, little lady be so cunning, clever and capable when it came to pulling off capers without consequence? Except for one time...
During my mom's early teens she was quite the forger.. She routinely forged doctor's excuses so her baby brothers could get out of school early on Friday afternoon... She also forged her parent's signatures when said brothers brought home dismal report cards that required parental acknowledgment.
The real kicker is the "Library Story".. It's hard to believe today but back in the 30's when my mother attended Catholic grade school, students had to have a "Pass" to visit the local public library.. You have to remember it was a different time. Catholics, Jews and African Americans were subjected to ridiculous and outrageous prejudice. Even in a racially diverse city like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, these practices prevailed.
By this time, my mother had become "teacher's pet" or more accurately, the "nun's pet." She was selected to go to the library and pick up a stack of passes and deliver them to the nun to authorize with her signature and distribute to deserving students. Well the temptation was far too great.... She stashed a few for herself and her best girlfriend, Nancy Flaherty, so they could go whenever they wanted... Yep, she'd graduated from piddly parental forgery and progressed to all out Nun Forgery! She got away with it until she and Nancy got the giggles and made a little too much noise in the library... The librarian reported my mom to the nun... Well more than just the "books" hit the fan... My mother was called into the Nun's office and told she would be placed under arrest for her crimes... The nun achieved her ultimate objective and scared the BeJesus out of my mom and she never did it again, to my knowledge....
In spite of this "dark"side during her youth, my mom managed to cross over to the light. She was an outstanding student and graduated fifth in her high school class of several hundred. She became an excellent Registered Nurse under the tutelage and torture of the Sisters of Mercy. She was one of only a handful of classmates selected to represent Mercy at the University of Pittsburgh for several specialized rotations.
At the beginning of WWII, there was a great shortage of nurses in the armed forces. Eleanor Roosevelt threatened to draft them if they did not volunteer. At this point my grandfather insisted that my mother sign up for the U.S. Navy, as it would likely be the safest and best option. She would be less likely to face dangerous surroundings and circumstances. She was assigned to duty at St. Alban's Hospital on Long Island, New York. She cared for wards and wards of paraplegic Marines for about 18 months. She worked 12 hour shifts for 28 days straight, with two days off.. Can you imagine? She still loathes our Japanese cars...
After the war, my mom returned to the University of Pittsburgh and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Not such a big deal today, but back then it was pretty huge. Very few women completed a college education. She was able to manage the expense by working and going to school along with the benefit of the G.I. Bill. Her 1948 framed diploma hangs in her room to this day. Her enduring identity will forever be as a Nurse....
She came a long way from the days of forging doctor's excuses to becoming a brilliant nurse who served her country. Go Navy!
What an accomplished woman your mother is...awesome that she earned her BS in Nursing when it wasn't the "norm" to do so. I'm enjoying reading about her...
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