Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You

 Yesterday, at my Zumba Gold Halloween party we all wore costumes. My friend, Donna (shown here) arrived dressed as a 1960’s era nun. You can see that she knows exactly how to get into a role. And she commits to the part. I mean, look at those white cat’s eye eyeglasses. When I first saw her, I had a unexpected flashback to St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church. Donna actually scared me a little. I mean, she even carried an old-fashioned wooden ruler. Oh, dear!

I grew up as a public school kid, but then I was made to go to Catechism lessons every Monday after school. My father was Catholic and insisted upon this. I admit, I did envy the uniforms—those plaid jumpers with the crisp white blouses and the Peter Pan collars. Oh, and the kneesocks, the saddle shoes. However, my Protestant mother (Methodist, if you want to know) really didn’t go for the whole Catholic thing. She told me that my after-school time would be much better spent going to Nick’s Belltown Variety where I could get the latest copy Tiger Beat Magazine. And then, we could sit at the soda fountain, shoot the breeze with Nick and drink Coca Cola’s.

So yes, it’s true. I confess! I did skip out on Catechism lessons and guzzle down Coca Cola’s with my mother and other unsavory characters from Belltown.

But know this—when I returned to Catechism the following Monday, and I dutifully confessed the truth and told Sister Mary Ignatius about my digressions. After which, she would take up her wooden ruler, slap me on the hand and call me a heathen.

I’M JUST KIDDING!

The point is that this nun costume unearthed all sorts of buried memories for me. Buried treasure, really. That’s how it works when you’re a writer.

Creative Friends--a costume is never just a costume. A costume is a portal into your past. Your memories and imagination. Your dreams. Why not get creative and enjoy this great opportunity.

Happy Halloween!

Love,

Jamie