Diane Rusch Zinn, 1960
I had two memorable and rather unusual childhood trips, one to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada when I was probably around three or four years old, and one to Guthrie, Oklahoma when I was probably ten or eleven.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – My dad was stationed in Alaska and my mother and I rented a house in Edmonton. She was there alone waiting for my dad to visit. I don’t remember the
details When she was there by herself, I lived with my Grandmother Parks, my mother’s mom, who lived across the street from East on Grove. Once my Grandmother Rusch and Pop took me to visit my mom and dad in Edmonton. We rode in a train and had a sleeping car. I still remember climbing into one of the beds with Grandmother. The only other thing I remember about the trip was a little boy running up and down the aisle with a toy sword and hat made out of newspaper. How long we were at the house in Edmonton I have no idea, but I do remember putting on my dad’s shoes and walking down the stairway, somehow managing not to fall. That’s me in the photo at right.
Editor’s Note: See Diane’s story, Captain Leonard E. Rusch, My Father
Guthrie, Oklahoma – Have you ever spent time in a convent? Well, I did. A neighbor and good childhood friend, Rose Marie, who was three years older than me had an older sister, Dolores, who decided to become a nun. She entered a Benedictine convent in Guthrie and twice while she was there, I was invited to travel with Rose Marie and her mom and dad to visit her. Some background on Rose Marie: she attended Sacred Heart in Wichita and lived in such a plain house with only the essential furniture. But, they did have a piano, and she taught me some elementary playing techniques. She also was taking Latin at Sacred Heart, and we would look at her Latin I text book. I learned to translate a little in that, thus leading me to take three years of Latin at East. Every evening when we were doing the piano or book, her mother would be sitting in the only chair in the living room saying her rosary.
Anyway, on with the trip. Twice the Sharkey’s invited me to visit Dolores at the convent in Guthrie. We saw her there as a novice and later as Sister Bernarda. When she received her official name at the Brides of Christ ceremony, I was there. It was such a moving experience. The nuns all wore white. Sister later gave me a set of paper dolls, about 2′ high, of a nun with assorted habits.
At left, the habit Sister Bernarda wore. Below, St. Joseph Convent and Academy, Guthrie, OK
The convent was fascinating. The nuns had a huge outdoor building with sports equipment. I just remember tennis rackets. They also had
access to a swimming pool. Rose Marie and I were allowed to wander around the grounds and even in the halls of the convent as long as we were quiet and respectful. As would be expected, the nun’s individual rooms were simple and sparse. I do remember the food was delicious.
Occasionally, Sister Bernarda visited Wichita. I remember seeing her freshly starched wimple in their refrigerator. I wasn’t allowed to see her when she wasn’t wearing her complete habit. I did know her hair was cut very short to be more comfortable under the wimple. One evening she came to our house and regaled us with stories about life in the convent and as an elementary school teacher. Her experiences were humorous, not serious as you might expect.
Rose Marie and I stayed in touch for many years after she left Wichita, married, and had six children, I believe. Ultimately the correspondence ended, but I will always treasure the friendship we had.
