Just posted this to the guestbook for Mrs. Walsh. Wondering if anyone else remembers these: My condolences to the family of Mrs. Walsh. I am a graduate of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School where Mrs. Walsh was my teacher in 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade. I remember her at graduation promising not to follow us to High School. Recently I was with my 12-y-o son at Six Flags Great Adventure standing in the cue for BATMAN The Ride. The waiting room is made to look like a cave. My son Ryan (as he always does when we go there) pointed to a rock formation suspended from the ceiling and said, Stalactite. And I smile and I nod my head. When he was eight, and for the first time tall enough to ride, we stood in that same spot and I taught him that Stalactite has a T in it and thats how you remember its on top. And if you think of a mound of dirt, thats on the ground. Mound starts with an M. Stalagmites are on the ground. And when they grow together its called a column. I taught that to him when he was eight. Pretty sure that Mrs. Walsh taught me that when I was eight. She had the best mnemonic devices. I recall her saying something akin to: This is a good way to remember this, so pay attention. And I did. That was over forty years ago and it has never left me. And I can still remember two others. Points of the compass: If youre facing north, just remember the word WE. West is on your left and East is on your right. And then there was this gem: You can always remember that the Tropic of Cancer is on the top of the globe (in the northern hemisphere) and the Tropic of Capricorn is on the bottom because you get cancer in your throat and corns on your feet. It truly prompts one to smile and say, Thats so easy. And when these things pop into my head, I still hear them in her voice. I always will. As long as I live and my mind is intact, I will never forget what a stalactite is thanks to Mrs. Walsh. By extension, my son will never forget either. And someday, he may stand in a cave (or a faux cave) with a child of his own and share this knowledge with yet another generation. I think thats a nice legacy for Mrs. Walsh. And for me. This learned woman now sadly silenced... still teaching. Tom Zweier OLPH Class of 1978
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 17:18:18 +0000
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