Camping in the RV

Camping in my 60's is one whole lot different from camping as a Girl Scout in the 50's. We pitched tents, cooked over an open fire and peed in the woods.

Today, I have a RV. It has a kitchen, a bathroom, 2 bedrooms, air conditioning and 2 televisions with satellite.

It takes a Ford 350 Diesel to pull the fifth wheel. Loaded I'm camping with around 14,000 pounds of stuff.

We lived in the camper for 9 months. I loved it! Plug in the vacuum and in 10 minutes the place is clean!

I can barely remember the other style of camping. Can you?

"Pagan Babies"

Any one go to Catholic Grade Schools in the 50's and 60's? Remember the "Pagan Babies"?

In order to raise money for the missions, the grade school students were asked to bring in pennies and nickels to save a Pagan Baby. It took $10.00 to save a baby. For every $10.00 collected you got name the baby.

In most classrooms to encourage donations, the nuns pitted the boys against the girls. Least we forget, the donations were collected daily and tallied on the blackboard. I am not sure when this practice ended.

Did you ever wonder what happened to all of the "Pagan Babies"?

This Sunday at Mass a missionary priest had an answer. The missionary work by Catholic priests and nuns is allowing Catholic priests from foreign countries to pastor the priest empty parishes in America.

The work of the missionaries converted the native peoples to the Catholic Religion.

Now I had not given the "Pagan Babies" a thought in years. It is an amazing to think all of those pennies and nickels really helped the children in need. And now they are helping us!

Vacation Nightmare!

How to prevent a FREE vacation nightmare!

While working for a company that was owned by a conglomerate, special deals were offered to the employees of all the jointly held companies. That was how a lowly production manager of a plastic plant was offered among other things, 50% off rooms at Motel 6, a buy one get one free meal at Fishes’ Big Boy all of the time and land in Florida with nothing down and full ownership of the land in 10 years. What a deal!

Every executive in the company had one or two lots. How could you pass it up? Some were even building houses. Such a deal. Pay on the land for only two years and you could trade for a house on developed land.

So of course when the salesman came to our humble abode to excite us about land ownership, how could we refuse? The deal included a FREE Vacation!!

The sales pitch said buy this land now site unseen and you will get a Free vacation of five days and four nights, two rounds of golf, 2 meals a day and a travel allowance of $200.00. Now, if you want to see the land first, you get only 3 days and 2 nights FREE, no golf or meals and no travel allowance. He had a map of the lots that had 10year options. We found the neatest lot with green space behind (swamp) and a golf club near the addition.

Such a deal! We were poor. Only married a year and living in New Jersey with our collective 6 children. How could we go wrong? FREE! If we planned correctly, arranged for the children to be with their mother (his two) and their father (my four), got work time off we could be alone for a FREE vacation.

So one day in July, we drop children off and head south from northern New Jersey. With our discount at Motel 6, we would only need one night in a motel. Ok, not quite FREE. So we drove on Saturday until 10 pm. We were in Georgia and only had to get to South of Tampa on Sunday.

Tampa is far from Georgia. We arrived just in time to get our vouchers for the room, food, golf and travel. Ok, FREE. The builder owned the motel. The meals were at the motel. The golf was at their club. But we were in Florida on a FREE vacation!

One little requirement, we had to attend one little hour speech about building a house in paradise and take a tour of our land and some sites avaible for trade in now.

They loved folks living in the northeast area where houses cost 3,4 and even 5 times what they had to offer-big fish on a little hook. What dream homes we saw! What bargains! New ones, on golf courses, swimming pools and club house a dream we could have by signing on the dotted line. Oh wow!

What these folks did not know and we did not say was that we had no more money, so we were real lookie-lous. I’m sure they figured it out and left us alone after the trip down Park Place Lane.

We drove down streets with scrub palms and sand and few houses until the road ended. The salesman consulted his map, pointed to the swamp and said that Park Place Estates would be ready in 8 years before our land was paid. Of course, we could trade it in now for a build ready lot over at Marvin Gardens.

So that was mostly all we could do on Monday. Tuesday was golf day. Wednesday the ocean called. Thursday we checked out of the room and got in another FREE round of golf. So, we left for home at 3:00 pm.

So you ask yourself what vacation nightmare is this?

We had planned most the trip together, the childcare, the days off, the time in Florida but we did not plan the trip home. I felt we could get home on Sunday at 9:00 pm the last possible moment. In my mind I saw Charleston S.C., Williamsburg, Virginia, and any town along the way. I had maps and sights to see all lined up on my lap.

He felt we could be home Friday by 10:00 pm or so by driving straight through the night and all day Friday.

Now we are in the car driving, and I say here’s the road to Jacksonville. As we sail by, I said the next good place is Hilton Head. No comment. We speed past that exit. Now it is really dark and 10:00 pm. He looks at me and says what’s the matter? I inquired when are we stopping? It was then that I learned we were driving through.

The steam was pouring out of my head. Had I mentioned that I do not play golf? He had a perfect time and I sat around the pool. Did I mention July in Florida? We were all the way past the Myrtle Beach exit when he realized that I was steaming.

So this dense but not stupid man says hey we’ll stop at South of the Border. Up and down I-95 you see signs for South of the Border just 200, 150, 75, 25, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, miles to Pedro’s South of the Border. As you pass by, signs say you just missed South of the Border. It is the largest tourist trap that I have ever seen. It is just south of the North Carolina State Line. For some unknown reason, there is no north of the border.

But there was a Motel 6 with a room for special guests like us with our discount. We had breakfast at the restaurant with a huge sombrero on top. I was only mumbling an occasional ok.

We were in the car with the radio on not speaking, when a miracle occurred. The station was offering vacation advice. Are you still speaking after your vacation? What went wrong? Let us give you some tips. At that we broke up giggling then laughing then kissing.

He says we’ll go to Williamsburg. I say let’s get home. Now we disagree about what to do in reverse. At this point I was tired and said that I just wanted my bed not another Motel 6. That won the argument-the idea of a bed that didn’t sag and sheets that didn’t scratch. We could not wait.

Still not a disaster. Just wait. Why am I complaining?

One Sunday three years after our FREE vacation, we were watching 60 Minutes. General Development, the company from which we were buying our paradise lot, was the feature story. The three owners were on the way to jail. They swindled thousands of people mostly from the northeast out of millions of dollars. The planned communities had started out in good faith. There are 5 or 6 communities limping along.

But as the companies grew, so did greed. Houses were sold that were shoddy. Land sold were swamps too difficult to clear. And promises and hearts were broken.

Our FREE vacation wound up costing $10,000. Class action law suits secured pennies of the loss. The hardest hit folks had bought homes that were falling apart due to cheep construction.

So my advice to you is avoid at all costs the FREE vacation. Somewhere down the line you will pay and pay dearly!

Atom Bomb Safety Commercials 1950's

When you see a bright flash of light duck into the nearest doorway, hide behind the sofa, crouch under your desk at school or get into the hallway! These and other such steps to take under an atom bomb attack have been in my brain since the 1950's.

Our government had public service announcements on atom bomb attacks on television in the 1950's and 60's. I'm not sure if anyone believed that these tactics would work. As a child in school in addition to fire drills, we had atom bomb drills.

A practice siren would go off and then the atom bomb drill would begin. I close my eyes and can see a scared second grader hiding under her desk at school. I practiced at home hiding behind the sofa.

On television around 10 years after the atomic bomb attack on Japan, a show featured some of the survivors. They had horrible burns and were covered with scarves and some shown only from behind a screen.

As the years have passed many studies have been made on the atomic bomb survivors. Radiation has many horrible long term affects including cancers and birth defects.

Of course then we built air raid shelters and at home bomb shelters. As if they would have helped any of us.

I must say the world is crazy when war is still waged and the risk of the bomb remains possible.

Jacks a Playground Game for Children

To excel at jacks, you had to have a steady hand, good eyes and skill. I have none of these attributes but loved to play the game of jacks. The game is basic-10 jacks (small metal six-pointed stars) and one rubber ball. To start toss the jacks on a flat surface. Then bounce the ball, pick up a jack and catch the ball before it hits the ground.

There were various games to play the game of jacks but the basic one was easiest. Always using only one hand, on the first round, you pick up one jack-onesies. On the second round, you pick up two jacks-twosies.

Jacks can be played with any number of players. The best part for me was that I could practice by myself. I always won. I always cheated.

Jacks is a game that I passed on to my children. I miss seeing the children of today on the sidewalk playing jacks.

Next time I go to the store, I'm purchasing several packs of jacks for the grandchildren!

I Like Ike!

The first presidential election that I can remember was Dwight David Eisenhower's first election. We were living in the State of Florida, Miami area during the election. Even though television was a new news media, the election was on the air and my fellow third graders were paying attention.

My parents were Roosevelt Democrats and rooting for Stevenson. On the playground, kids would say, "Who do you like?" If you did not say, "I like Ike!" You would receive a punch in the arm.

I was a chicken and said, "I like Ike!" Political intimidation even at an early age. To think times have not changed all that much.

We have a letter from the Illinois Governor's office from Adlai Stevenson, thanking my parents for their support.

Now another election is due in November. I dare to think what those adult classmates of mine would say now.

A funny footnote to Ike's election happened when the I Like Ike scarves were on sale for $.25. Mother always looking for a bargain, purchased 4 of them. They were red or blue with election like buttons saying I Like Ike in each button. Lovely.

Flag Day and Happy Birthday Day to Me!

Flag Day Facts

A little known fact about Flag Day happened on June 14, 1944. On that day in a White Plains, New York hospital, I was born. The first child of Jerry and Antoinette Dunlevy, I was born weighing 6 pounds 14 ounces at 6:14 am. These facts are special only to my family and me.

The more important facts about Flag Day begin when the Second Continental Congress acting on a resolution adopted the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United of America.

It is difficult in this busy world to celebrate another event. The flag represents patriotism and pride in our country. As another day in June sandwiched between Memorial Day, Father's Day and the Fourth of July, June 14th has never been celebrated as a great national holiday. But on June 14th, many families, businesses and communities fly the flag in honor.

All Americans are urged to fly the American Flag during the week of June 14th. Some communities hold parades but many more decorate the town with the Stars and Stripes.

When Americans recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the National Anthem, the flag is honored in a special way and more often remembered than it would be on one huge holiday.

When I turned 6 years-old in 1950, I was visiting my grandmother in West Palm Beach, Florida. The town had a picnic and fireworks to honor Flag Day. My grandmother took me around and told everyone the party was for my birthday also.

In the fifth grade the teacher asked, "Who knows what happens on June 14th?" No one raised their hand which was simply too puzzling to me. I of course finally raised my hand and was called upon and replied, "June 14th is Flag Day." The teacher then asked me how I knew that and I informed her that it was also my birthday.

I have often wondered how it would be to share a birthday with a huge holiday. I have always felt special having June 14th as a birthday.

I almost always fly the flag at my house. I currently have a flagpole as a gift from my children for my 60th birthday. At least once a year, I purchase a new flag for the pole.

My dad a Marine died December 11, 2007 and the American Flag draped his coffin. I feel a special pride when I see the Stars and Stripes on a solders coffin. My mother took Dad's folded America Flag and put it in the flag box. She has only one son so my brother has the flag at his home.

Any American can request one of the American Flags that fly over the United States Capitol. A request to your House or Senate Member will start the process. The site: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/se nators_cfm.cfm obtains the U.S. Senators. http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtm l for representatives.

Happy Birthday American Flag.

Jump Rope

In the 50's the moment the weather turned nice, kids were out jumping rope. The most fun was when three or more participants were around. Two would turn the rope while one or more took turns jumping. When there were only two jumpers around, we would time one end of the rope to a tree, mailbox or any post.

My sisters and I loved jumping rope and we knew lots of rhymes to chant while jumping. Now when playing with family memebers, fairness was an issue. How long one turned the rope while the other jumped was always in dispute. Nothing was more frustating than one sister jumping alot and then quiting before her turn turning the rope.

When my grandchild was born, I wanted to teach her the chants for skipping rope. There are books one containing Miss Mary Mack a clapping game also used as a jump rope for sale. I have found them at Amazon.com.

For years now I have yet to see kids after school or on summer break jumping rope. The kids are on motor powered scooters and bikes. They are not even out side playing tag, hop scotch or any group fun games. We wonder why the kids today are fluffy.

Jump rope any one. At our 50th high school reuinions, wouldn't it be fun to see us jump rope? Maybe not!

Saddle Shoes and Bobby Sock

During the 1950's, I wore saddle shoes 97% of the time. I had on occasion a pair of Mary Janes for church. The cool saddle shoes were black and white. Of course my mother who purchased what she liked, always managed to find a pair of saddle shoes in brown and white.

To go with the saddle shoes, white cuffed ankle socks were worn-bobby socks. My legs were so skinny that the socks would creep down into my shoes. Over time, I spent hours pulling up the bobby socks.

In 1961 as a junior in high school, I had my first pair of loafers. I never again wore saddle shoes.

Does any one wear saddle shoes now?

School's Out

Remember the last day of school? Or the refrain:

School's out, school's out the teacher wore her _______ out!

Do kids still say that?

My Sister Kathy

Can your best friend also be a sister? I am the sister elder to four women. They are all my friends. But only one is my best friend. She's only two years younger than me but often acts older and wiser than me.

As a child Kathy always knew what she wanted. If her crayon broke, she managed to swap for my unbroken one. If she wanted to know where the Christmas presents were hidden, she'd cajole me into helping her look for them. If her room was messy (it still is), she'd make me help clean it up or we would not get to go to the movies.

Kathy is a natural leader. At preschool graduation, there is a picture of Kathy showing fellow grads how to stand in line. She managed to keep my quiet-not too interested in mingling self included with her friends.

Kathy had a successful career with AT&T where she managed large numbers of employees. She could sell telephone services to a company that did not know they had a need.

Whenever I am down, Kathy picks me up. She unselfishly helps our parents, her friends and neighbors. I miss her everyday but thank you Mr. Bell for your wonderful telephone invention.

Sunday is Kathy's birthday. I have her card on my desk in Ohio and she is in California. So the post office will make extra money if the card is to be on time.

I am starting today thankful for my sister and my best friend.

Mickey Mantle Number 7 New York Yankee

When a young baseball player Mickey Charles Mantle began playing for the New York Yankees in 1951, two things made him my hero.

1. Born and raised in White Plains, New York a mere train ride to the Bronx, my mother was raised as a Yankee fan. She remembers Babe Ruth and all of the old time greats of the 30's and 40's. She recalls taking the train with her brother, meeting my grandfather from work (in those days a work week included Saturday Mornings) and going to the afternoon games.

2. Television was new and not common. Hoverer, our new Levittown house came with a built in television. And amazingly the New York Yankee games were televised.

Every time my mother cheered, I stopped to see what happened. At this time I was only 7 years old so mother's team became my team. Mom's heroes became my heroes. And she fell deeply in baseball lust over the Mick.

Mother always has deep, strong, unwavering and loyalty to her heroes-Roosevelt, Kennedy, Obama, Yankees then Reds then Braves, Palmer, Michelson then John Daley, and so on. She acknowledges their faults but only after absolute proof. Then she cries over all of their follies. She would say how young and good looking Mickey was and could he hit the ball.

So, I made a Mickey Mantle scrapbook. I watched Saturday Baseball Game of the Week in New Orleans (not on daily down there or any where else) and followed his every career move.

In person, I only saw Mickey Mantle on the field in uniform once. It was an old timers game in Pittsburgh around 1970. My seat was on the first base side in the top tier but we were in the same air. He played first base and had a stiff walk.

I saw him again at Yankee Stadium opening day game. 1985. He was reinstated into baseball after a rude suspended by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Mickey needed money so he worked for the Claridge Resort Casino. He had not been paid for his baseball playing career the way today's players are paid. Peter Ueberroth became commissioner and fixed the unfair mess. The cheers in the stands when Mickey Mantle took the field lasted many minutes. I cried and cheered.

One day while reading the Newark Star Ledger, I got an invitation to finally meet Mickey Mantle. It was about time! He was making an appearance to promote his book The Mick at a housing development in New Jersey about 50 miles from my home.

My husband said that he did not wish to go with me to watch me drool over another man. I had a great framed picture on the wall by my bed of Mickey Mantle when I met Charlie. He had advised me once we married that he really disliked watching me wake up and smile at Mickey's picture. Of course, I moved it the my Mickey Mantle wall in the basement.

None of the children wanted to waste a Saturday driving with me to see an old man. Only, my old dog Bubba went with me. Bubba would go any where any time.

The day was gray and snowing. The car was slipping all over the traffic lanes. I should have turned around and headed home. But I didn't.

There was a crowd at the clubhouse with all kinds of things for Mickey to sign. I found a seat in the fourth row and waited. When he entered the room, tears pooled in my eyes. He could hardly sit down. His knees were in bad shape. The announcer said that Mickey would speak for a few minutes and than sign one item for each person present.

Mickey was a funny man. He thanked everyone for coming and then told a story. It is one he told many times but was still funny.

"One day, Billy Martin was staying with me in Texas and wanted to go hunting. I have a good friend with a ranch and he had issued an open invitation to hunt on his grounds when ever I wanted.

So we get our guns, get the truck and drive out to the ranch. I parked and told Billy that I just wanted to let my friend know that we are here.

My friend came to the door and said of course you may hunt today. But Mickey would you do me a huge favor. See that old horse over there. He needs to be put down and since you have a gun would you do it for me?

Gee I had protested do I have to? Mickey it would be a great favor. I love that horse and hate to do it myself. So I agreed.

On the way back to the car, I decided to play a trick on Billy. When I got to the car, I told Billy that that mean rancher refused to let us hunt on his grounds. I am going to get back at him and shoot his horse give me my gun. Billy said no Mickey you don't want to do that. I told him oh, yes I do!

We argued for a few moments and I took the gun, walked over to the horse and shot him.

In the next seconds, I heard pop, pop, pop. I turned and looked and Billy shouted look Mick, I got us 2 more.

The joke wound up being on me after I reimbursed the rancher for the two dead horses."

Then a line formed with each person holding several items to be signed. I was amazed but one person told me that these people show up all the time to get an autograph and then sell it for the money.

I held back and got into the end of the line. I had my Mickey Mantle Scrapbook with me along with a program from 1965 Mickey Mantle Family Day Yankee Program. When it was my turn, I told Mickey that I brought my scrapbook with me. He said lets look at it and we did.

The page open with a picture of Mickey Mantle's leg wrapped in a bandage and a package on his lap. I told him that the picture had been in the New Orleans newspaper and a fan had sent him the present.

He looked a me kind of funny. I have heard him say that a times he was surprised that fans knew so much about him. Then he asked what did I want signed. I really just wanted to shake his hand but I gave him the program.

While he was signing the program, I told him thank you and how much I enjoyed meeting him. He reached out his hand for me to shake.

Well, I can still see him and hear his voice.

Driving in the car on December25, 1989, we heard that Billy Martin was killed in a car crash. I cried who is going to tell Mickey?

I have the program from Mickey Mantle's funeral. A friend of my sister was his friend and brought a copy for me.

I miss him as do most baseball fans who watched him hit a homer. My ebay name is mickeyg7714. I was called Mickey for years by close friends. I still miss him.

Ricky Nelson The Son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson

In 1952 a television show attracted the attention of my mother. She was from New York and had followed the Ozzie Nelson Band. When the show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, came over from radio to television, she was one of the first viewers.

The show starred the entire family especially Ricky Nelson. He was the most adorable of the two sons. David resembled his dad, while Ricky had the fine features of his mother. I fell instantly in love with him. He was only four years older than my 8 years.

Now the show was on at 8:00 pm in Miami. My bed time was 7:00 pm (until I was in high school when my dear dad suggested to mom it might be okay to let me stay up longer). In order to get to watch the show, Mom made me a deal. I would go to bed with the others and she would come wake me up for the show. It was a special time that we shared and I will always remember it fondly.

I adored Ricky and followed his career. In August 1958, Ricky Nelson played at the Indianapolis State Fair Coliseum. It was the first concert that I attended. I was in the third row. Ricky was only 18 and just launching his vocal career. He sang on the television show several times and after a while the show always ended with Ricky singing a song.

I''m not sure why it is that so many of our special singers die in plane crashes. I know they use planes that are often not expensive and seem not to be maintained. When Ricky Nelson died in a plane crash on December 31, 1985, he was only 45. Just thinking about it makes me so sad.

I watch NCIS all of the time and have always felt that his brother-in-law Mark Harmon has the same fine facial features of Ricky. I believe that I will go play my Ricky Nelson CD now.

Opa Locka Miami, FL

When the Korean War began, my father a Marine Corps Reserve Captain, was immediately called back into service. He had been in the South Pacific Theater during WWII. He was at Marine Headquarters in Virginia when a Colonel pressed him into service for duty opening an air field in Miami Florida.

It was then that Opa Locka Marine Air Base Miami Florida would for ever be a part of our lives. In 1952, Miami was a wide open town. The world did not have total air conditioning.

Think about it: Cars without air conditioning-hot, houses without air conditioning-muggy, offices without air conditioning-stifling. I wonder what the hotels had ocean breezes? I remember my father leaning out of a two story military base building waving at us.

As an officer, we had the Officer's Club Pool for our use. To beat the heat, we spent every hour possible there swimming and playing.

Along with his other duties, Dad was in charge of the Brigg. I remember getting my fingerprints taken for fun. I wonder if they went anywhere or were just thrown out. One day a soldier went AWOL in the middle of the night. Dad had to lead the chase to capture him.

Dad and his fellow Opa Locka Marines were the head of the first Orange Bowl Parade. Just a simple parade by today's standards but still a thrill.

Mom was active in the Officer Wives' Club. Ed McMahon was stationed at Opa Locka at the same time. Mom was in a play that he directed. I went to a dress rehearsal and saw my mother run across the stage waving a bra. I can still hear all the laughter from the shenanigans.

Dad was promoted to Major and mom had two babies while we lived there. I loved walking with Dad and seeing everyone salute him.

One incident still plays over and over in my mind. We were on Opa Locka Base to pick up Dad after work. Mother had three children and was expecting another soon. When she stopped the car across the street from the offices, my sister Kathy only 5 and always in a hurry, dashed out of the car and headed across the street. A huge gray base bus hit her. The tire of the bus ran over the heel of her shoe crushing the shoe. Always full of spunk, she scrambled out from under the bus and avoided death. She was hurt and I was screaming.

Since the Marines are part of the Navy, she was taken by ambulance to the nearest Naval Hospital in Key West, Florida. She had a broken leg and a blood clot in the knee of her other leg. She remained in the hospital for two weeks.

One weekend, we drove down to see her. The causeway is still the same. Two miserable lanes of traffic with little shoulder and a ditch with gators after that. On the way home, the car had a flat tire. No air conditioning, no shoulder and mosquitoes think about it. Poor Dad, the bites he suffered when changing that tire.

Finally, the war was over and we left Opa Locka. Dad was discharged and we moved to New Orleans.

Dad died December 11, 2007 and in his obituary we mentioned the Opa Locka Base. Many people remembering Dad, knew some one stationed there.

Do you remember Opa Locka Marine Air Base 1952-1954?

Sky King

Of all of the early television shows, Sky King was my hero. His plane the Songbird was almost like the horses cowboys used to catch the bad guys. I wished that I could be his niece Penny and fly with him.

Sky King was not on television for a long time. Looking it up there were only 72 episodes.

Thinking about it 50 years later, I realize that I want to be a pilot and fly like Penny.

When I googled Sky King, I was pleased to see others also remember the show fondly.

Go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_King for some fond memories!

Saint Joan of Arc Grade School Indianapolis Indiana

My family arrived in Indianapolis, Indiana May4, 1957. We had lived in the south for over 5 years.

Of course since the school year was not over, Dad enrolled us in the near by Catholic School. We were lucky since Saint Joan of Arc Grade School was one of the best grade schools. It created quite a stir at the school when 4 sisters all blond and suntanned (no one used sun block back then), show up.

I was in 7th grade, Kathy 5th, Mary 3rd and Joan kindergarden. We were freezing and in sweaters, while the other students thougt it was warm and in shirt sleeves.

My Saint Joan of Arc graduating class celebrates a 50 year reunion this July. I was startled to get an invitation except for one thing. The school has fund raisers for various reasons and manages to track down graduates. The Catholic families of those days were huge. We were only six children while 12, 13 and even 16 children were common. So if a Dunlevy (my maiden name) was in a class so was a Quinn, Chrapla, Feeny, Quiser and so on.

My family moved out of the Saint Joan of Arc Parish in 1962 but the parish is still part of our lives. Friends are buried from the wonderful church, weddings take place there and of course the fund raises are several times a year.

If you visit Indianapolis, be sure to drive by Saint Joan of Arc Church at 42nd and Central.