I spent a day with two of the awesome women that I graduated with from Dominican High School in 1966. Yes, 47 years ago! In spite of all of the strange curves that life has thrown us, we are still in the game.

Between the three of us there had been two divorces, one spousal death, the death of both Mary's and my parents, and the loss of siblings.

We sat at a table prepared by Mary's and reminisced and recalled our youthful experiences. We laughed and offered forgiveness to a teacher or two who served us all cruelty.  With the homemade chicken salad sandwiches and fresh fruit and green salads came a fountain of memories. We filled in the gaps that one or the another of us had either selected or absentmindedly forgotten.

I had no recollection of Susan traveling with me on the Sunset Limited Train to Lafayette to visit my now deceased and very colorful Uncle Joseph. Susan even described the Mary Quaint dress that she made for the trip.

Susan had forgotten the amulets that she made out of the “fruit” loops from our boyfriends’ shirts. We shared untold stories about one particular sister who mortally embarrassed all of us. We also remembered the reason that we were all reunited, Sister Veronica Meceli. She was one of the Great Ones: the teacher who makes school worthwhile and meaningful; the one who recognized goodness in each of us in different ways. Sister Veronica, the woman who inspired us all to love history.

We prayed for and toasted her gift to each of us. I for one, learned the art of teaching from this gifted woman. She recognized that I too had a gift for imparting knowledge in a memorable fashion.

So all of the heart aches that we experienced in school, all of the joys, and boy friend problems seemed insignificant at this gathering 43 years later. We shared a meal and we remembered the ones who assisted us and helped us to survive, no to thrive, and be the wonderful women of grace, ease and peace.

Here’s to you Sister Veronica and the women of Dominican High School.