The Baltimore Catechism

Sitting around our back yard fire the other night, drinking whiskey, we started sharing stories from Catholic school. Joe was talking about our 7th grade teacher, Sister Mary George, who seated us according to our ability and was generally just terrifying. We would stand, individually, working our way through pages of math problems, or spelling words, or recitations from the Baltimore Catechism, one at a time. She would never respond...until eventually someone would say, "Sister, I'd like to make a correction, please." It could have been the last question, or thirty questions back. Wherever it was, if it was indeed in need of correction, that's where we would start over.

The Baltimore Catechism responses had to be letter perfect.

Someone, over whiskey, said, "Does anyone have one of those catechisms?"

I do. I found it at a yard sale.

Starting Out

Almost every Saturday for the past twelve years or so, I have ventured out to scavenge the local garage sales. Usually I have a friend (or two) with me. Most of the time we come home with items useful but mundane: books for my third grade classroom, clay pots, a better spatula than the one currently in use in my kitchen. Once in a while our search is a total bust and we come home empty-handed. But then there are the Treasure Days.

Here are a few favorites that fall in the category of "Stuff that will get tucked somewhere in the yard."