Who knew that sitting in French Language classes at Presentation Academy’s Fourth Street location in Louisville, Kentucky that becoming proficient in a few French phrases would in future years become of greater value to me than receiving a daily 100 grade on any homework paper.
I would learn to sing the French National Anthem and be able to smile when I met individuals from that nation. A couple from France, Christine and Christoff joined my Sister Jean and me in the Infield of Churchill Downs to celebrate the annual running of the Kentucky Derby. We had them practice singing, ‘The Sun shines bright on my Old Kentucky Home” on the trip to the Downs and they encouraged us to improve our rendition of their National Anthem.
To obtain funds for our non-profit Gallery which displayed works of local artists and craftsmen, in previous years, I painted the head of a horse and its number on the face of Infield wagers. They said that number brought them luck at the betting window. On Christine I painted my version of The Arch of Triumph. Since she receive a tan during that day, when she washed off her paining an image of her French allegiance remained to memorialize that Arch as she travelled farther on her trip across the United States. Thanks to the gentle Nun who taught French I was able to whisper, “Bon Matin” to Christine. I speak that phrase better than I spell it but she understood.
One year found our group working in the Courtyard of The Kentucky State Fair And Exposition Center. We had a large Teepee enhance our setting. The waiting lines were long but the children remained happy and delighted to go home with a Garfield or Unicorn to show their other waiting family members
I held dear, the summer when volunteers joined me at several outdoor Catholic Picnic Festivals.to paint faces of eager children. Those children did not suspect that a pious Nun was placing rainbows on their faces and blessing them at the same time. It was a summer of fond memories and many blessings.