I don't know how old I was, but it was before the Nulty family were regulars at Sunday mass, so it must have been pretty young. I was outside one Sunday amusing myself in the front yard and saw Grandma's car drive down Church Street. But, it didn't turn onto my street. I think I thought she must be lost. So, I walked down to see if Grandma needed directions. I caught up with her just outside of church. I don't remember if she asked me if I wanted to stay or if I asked her. Anyway, I stayed for mass. Somebody gave me a lollipop just before I went in. It was so long ago that I can't remember if it was Grandma that gave it to me or someone else. Well, I've never been one to let candy sit very long. I started on that lollipop as soon as I got seated in the pew. I was informed that I probably shouldn't be eating in church. Grandma gave me a box to put the lollipop in until after mass was over. Unfortunately, it was a perfume box - still smelling of "Emeraude" I think. When I finally go into that lollipop after church, it tasted a little funny, but I, of course, ate it anyway. I was a little embarrassed because I didn't know I wasn't supposed to eat in church, especially since everyone else go up to eat something later on during the mass! That is the first time I remember ever going to mass and I was just following my Grandma.
-- Erin Hartmann
I remember a time when Mom, and probably Dad too, took us to the St. Lawrence County fair in Gouverneur, NY. This kind of thing didn't happen very often because there were so many of us. Just imagine taking your 2 kids to the fair and then multiplying that times 5 or more. That may have been the summer that Dad allowed promoters to put ads for the fair on his old barn. In exchange, Dad was given several free passes to the fair. Boy was I excited. There was a baby, of course. There was always a baby for as long as I lived at home. The baby was in a stroller and I was riding the Ferris Wheel. One of the first things you do when you get on a ride at the fair is look out to see where the rest of the family is. It was not hard to spot Mom - she was the lady in the bright red sweater with the baby stroller. It just struck me when I saw her from the top of the ferris wheel how striking she was. Her creamy complexion and black hair against that red sweater. My Mom was beautiful and red was sure her color.
-- Helen Nulty
I remember the incident this way -- maybe my sister Tee might have another version -- anyway I think this was probably in the summer of 1939 - just a few months before our father - Peter B. Cahill passed away (March 30, 1940).
We (the little kids) were outside playing in Old Forge, NY. Our back porch was pretty high off the ground, probably 4 ft. or so. Mom had a clothes line there and usually had some little socks or underpants hanging to dry. This would make Lucy Helen about 13. Anyhow, she was out there to hang or retrieve something from the clothesline and caught her foot on something. She fell to the ground with a thud! As she lay there moaning and trying to catch her breath, Daddy came running out, picked her up and ran into the house. He put her on the bed in his and Mom's room, and was yelling "call the priest" all the way. Of course we didn't have a phone, so Barney or someone ran next door to call. By the time Father Boucher got there Mom had gotten out the smelling salts and Lucy Helen was doing much better. The fall had knocked the wind out of her. When things calmed down everybody was chuckling about the whole thing. Even the priest who was a very sober, straight-laced man. I learned a couple of things. If you get the wind knocked out you will be OK, and also a priest can actually smile and laugh like everybody else.
-- Julia Cahill Marsh
After reading Julia's story about Mom falling, it brought to mind all the times I remember that Mom fell. She was known for doing that and I guess it started at a very young age. I won't go on too long about that because there are those who would say I got that trait from her.
I especially recall the time she fell in the parking garage at Cornell University. Mom and Dad were attending Tom-III's graduation. I had arranged for handicapped seating and a parking place in the parking garage so they didn't have to walk so far. We had reached the level of the garage where Mom & Dad had parked and gone through the door. There were several people in line behind us but Mom was hesitating, getting her bearings to recall where the car was parked. He was in mid turn when Dad applied pressure on her shoulder to encourage her to move out of the way of the people behind us. It was just enough to cause her to lose her balance and fall on the concrete. All her weight went on one shoulder and she was quite stunned for a moment. She had several people helping her up and she had quite a bit to say to Dad all the while. We could not convince her to go to the emergency room and I think she was sorry before the day was over. At various times after that she had trouble with that shoulder but never actually agreed to have anything done about it.
I'm sure there are others of you who have similar stories. Let's hear them. Maybe we could make a movie.
Many of us have a deep love of reading. Where do you suppose we got that? One of the warmest feelings I get is when I remember Mom getting us all into bed, in the big dormitory above the current kitchen/bath, and reading Curlytops books. We had all had our baths...some of the littler ones had already fallen asleep...something about that warm bath water. Eventually everyone would be quiet after throwing that last punch and she would begin. Usually it would just be a chapter. She was tired too. When I got older and the chapter ended making you wonder what was going to happen, I would pick up the book and read far enough to find out.
Mom's favorite break was enjoying her lunch with a book. She would look up with that expression on her face that said "Whatever you want, it can wait a few minutes." Grandma Cahill, her mother, used to say that she wouldn't be home long before she had her nose stuck in a book. Aunt Barney used to say that Mom would disappear, with her nose stuck in a book, and get out of doing things. Our mother?
Mom agreed to watch Erin for me while I worked. She told me that as soon as Erin got to the house she started gathering books for Mom to read to her as soon as the bus left with the rest of the kids. I wonder if she ever realized what a head start she gave us on life by sharing that love of reading with us.
I thought of this story again last year [2005] about Christmas time. Each year the UNC Chapel Hill Gazette features holiday rembrances of University employees. The theme in 2005 was "overcoming hardship." Believe it or not all I could think of was the time Banjo and I went to get the Christmas Tree. When I thought about it, I smiled inside and out so it didn't qualify as hardship to me. But I'll share with you all now.
It was the year that Dodie was born - 1952? - in November. Grandma Cahill was staying with us while Mom was in the hospital. We had a lot of snow. When you have a lot of snow and Christmas has happened yet, what do you do? In the mind of a 6 or 7 year old (Banjo was probably 6) you go get the Christmas tree. Grandma Cahill was busy inside the house taking care of Mary, Jean and Peg. Banjo and I were outside playing when he got this grand idea. We set out for the Sugar Bush above Grandma Shene's house.
We did find a tree ... a Charlie Brown tree even before it was invented ... and somehow Banjo cut it down. I don't remember how he did that. I was all of 3 1/2 years old. I got tired and sat down under a tree. Banjo was entertaining me with wild animal stories. If he thought that was going to put me in the mood to walk, he was wrong! I remember thinking at least one or two of those animals was going to "get me."
Finally Banjo convinced me to get up and walk home. When we got there, he was in big trouble! Grandma Cahill was frantic worrying about where we were. I was treated like a lost treasure found once again.
That is one of my first childhood memories. My big brother took good care of me.