I transferred my junior year to St Bernard’s the Fall of 1968. I had previously gone to a Benedictine high school in Lisle, Illinois (Benet Academy, formerly St Procopius), when my dad’s company transferred him from Chicago to St Paul. While the Benedictines taught at both schools, Benet Academy was a fairly high end Chicago suburban high school. However, St Bernard’s was an inner city high school. The campus of Benet Academy, located across the highway from St Procopius Abbey, dwarfed the small campus of St Bernard’s. It was a bit of a culture shock for me, but all for the better. St Bernard’s was earthy, grounded in the every day life of those who taught there and those who were students. There was no pretense at St Bernard’s. Benet Academy was a very good school, but much of what we have seen in all those John Hughes movies based in Chicago, was also a part of the culture at Benet Academy.
I could not have received a better education than that I received at St Bernard’s. However, as good an education I received at St Bernard’s, it was not my education from the school that I have valued the most. Quite simply, what I value the greatest from St Bernard’s is the beautiful girl pictured above, Ruth Ahmann. Ruthie was the first person who greeted me my first day at St Bernard’s. I think I may have been a bit of curiosity among the rest of my classmates, but not so to Ruth. When I got to band, Mr Nequette directed me to my chair next to Ruth. She flashed that beautiful smile at me and greeted me so warmly. I felt like I was at home. In those brief moments before band practiced started, I learned that Ruthie lived with her Aunt Ev and Uncle Harold on Marion Street. I learned she was a senior in high school. I also learned that she could play circles around me on the French Horn.
It took me eight month to gather up the courage to ask her out on a date. A junior in high school asking out a senior in high school? Yet, she said yes. On May 29, 1969, we went out on our first date, and saw the movie “Charly” at the World Theater in St Paul. It was not going to be our last date. On May 29, 2018, in honor of the 49th anniversary of our first date, I composed the following song for her.
This past December 27th, we celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary.
Back in 2011, when I was on a nearly year long medical leave, I remembered that first date on May 29th with this short poem.
FIRST DATE
Pouring down rain drenching the night
as I climb the steps to your home.
With one knock, light from within
greets me, and there you stand,
the scent of herbal essence from your hair,
your brown eyes looking deep into my soul.
You bid farewell to your Aunt and Uncle,
open the screen door
and step outdoors.
The drenching rain suddenly
frozen in time
as your hand touches mine
and you laugh,
aware of the secret
I have hidden deep within.
What was the secret? It was quite simple. I was head over heels in love with her. I am still crazy about this beautiful woman.
