Thursday, August 24, 2023
There are some people in your life that make a lasting impression. My impressions are permanently scared into my back side from the paddle that used to hang on the wall in our 7th grade classroom! The paddle was a gift from a previous class. It read "Miss Miller" and it had holes drilled in it that served two functions. The first was to enhance speed of delivery and the second was two fold, suction and sting. Miss Miller only used it one time on me and I deserved it. Although I denied my crime, I came clean two summers ago when I saw her after many years at my brother Sal's 60th birthday party. Her students affectionately named her "Gail the Whale" because she was a towering specimen of a woman, and "Miller The Killer", because she was a force to be reckoned with. She protected the children of St. Mary Of Mt. Carmel. One afternoon, I remember looking outside the 5th grade window after recess watching a disgruntled student who was swinging a large chain at 3 others. Three of Miss Miller's kids! Out of nowhere she appeared like one of those Marvel Comic hero's, squatting low, watching every revolution, waiting for the perfect time rush. She disarmed and body slammed the kid. The entire class erupted and cheered. She was loved much more than she was feared. She was an excellent teacher. After almost 45 years, I can still remember some of the things she taught me in history class. She was a great basketball player and our 5 & 6th grade coach. I can still picture her doing lay-ups better than anyone. Most of all, she was the schools music teacher. Yes, there were others that would deliver music instruction, but Miss Miller lead the entire school at all our first Friday masses playing her guitar. That's right, one Friday of the month, we had a half day so that the entire school could celebrate the Eucharist. Miss Miller would make her rounds going to each classroom teaching us the songs that we would sing for the mass. There were two parts of the mass that everyone looked forward to. Sing "Amen, Amen" and Gail leading us sing "Our Father, Who Art in Heaven". We loved her. She was awesome. Rest in peace Miss Miller.
