Some Not-So-Good Memories
I lived in St. Michael's home around 1960 to 1962 with my two other brothers named Rich, who was just a baby at the time, and my older brother. I was about 6 years old and my older brother was about 8.
The two years I spent there were the darkest years of my life. I Have a list of stories to tell, but I just want to touch on a few that affected me emotionally.
I recall the nuns forcing us to eat that oat-meal or corn- meal -- I hated it. I recall the stewed tomatoes -- they made me so sick. Even thinking I had to eat them made me sick. I recall another little boy who vomited on his table and they made him eat his own vomit. I remember a girl who did not want to eat, so one nun forced her mouth open by pushing her thumbs into he jaw, while the other nun forced the food into her mouth.
I also can recall a boy called Sammy who had sores all over his hands. When he was bad, the nuns would hit him till the sores started to bleed.
There were many times I cried wondering why my father left me there and I tried to tell him it was a dark, cold, cruel place. The nuns would beat us for the smallest things. Even though my brother lived also lived at the home, I hardly got to see him.
One day there were some people who came to visit and they picked me up and held me. I loved it so much but when the nun saw this she told me "do not let other people pick you up because you get enough love from us."
I saw so much pain there. On my last day I was waiting for my dad to pick me up when I went to say good-by to the only nun I liked, she was my school teacher. When I returned to the waiting area, the nun asked me where I went. After I told her, she hit me with her big hand on the back of my head so hard that I fell to the floor. I had a black eye from a fight where a bigger boy beat me, and the nun said if I am not careful I will go home with two black eyes.
That was the last thing I can remember. I am sorry for all the unpleasant things that I have recalled, but this is true and still leaves an emotional scar. I would love to be able to reach out to one of the other hurting souls, the girls had it just as bad as the boys, who went through the same thing and just maybe we can heal together.
Some Good Memories
page created May 26, 2006