Childhood Anxiety

Even forty years after the fact, I can barely look at a picture of this building without a cold chill going down my spine. And when my extended family had the opportunity to tour this hometown landmark in 2006, I almost couldn't do it. But my curiosity got the best of me, and the century-old Nazareth Convent in Concordia, Kansas proved to be just as creepy as I remembered. *shudder* This is where I took my piano lessons from age ten to twelve or so. The music room was located by the chapel (left side of picture), and as I waited for my lesson each week, I was alone in the over-sized hallway with various religious statues. Occasionally, a nun wearing a long black habit would pass by, which didn't help matters. I was momentarily relieved when the door opened and I was allowed to enter the music room, only to be overcome by a new source of anxiety...Sister Athanasia. I think I could probably hold my own against anyone else's piano teacher horror stories. It was obvious Sister did not enjoy giving lessons, so that weekly half-hour was a miserable existence for both of us. (The fact that I wasn't always faithful in practicing might have been a contributing factor, I suppose.) I finally convinced Mom and Dad that they were wasting their money, and the lessons ended. As with most adults with similar experiences, I wished they would have made me continue...with a different teacher at a different location, of course. As it is, I like to humor myself with a quote from Lady Catherine in Pride and Prejudice: "If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient." ;)