I lived at Villa Maria from Sept. 1970 - Jan. 1972. I also lived at the group home on Fitzhugh St for a year. I have to agree with Marilyn about feeling sad for those that came out with a negative attitude. Life is what you make it. I am still in contact with my house mother. She is in her 70's and lives and works at Fort Thomas, KY. I would not be the person I have become without the special help, education and love from Villa. I have some life-long friends, whom I have seen through the U.S. and abroad. The nuns were not witches. We did have rules. A few were more strict than others. Loved the pool, roller skating on the rickety second floor of the other building with the radio or record player blasting, going into the chapel to sit and reflect in my pajamas. The lay teachers were wonderful too. They were there because they wanted to make a difference and they did. Had the opportunity to go to Chicago to Marshall Fields, museums, O'Hare airport on a Dec. 7, 1971 field trip in that good 'ole station wagon, to Silver Lake sand dunes and climb the dunes and have a Jeep ride tour, sledding in Richmond Park, picking strawberries, seeing the Harlam Globetrotters downtown, going to a couple plays, seeing Gone With the Wind at the movie theatre on a school night, for the first time, having a fun and challenging young lady gym teacher who provided us with a trampoline and took us to the public high school to swim in the colder months. And can't leave out the dedicated Mr. V who took us to GR public school sporting events on the weekends and Burger King after. Yes, it was what you made it. Missed my home and family, dearly. Forty Three Years later I am still thankful for the opportunity and memories I hold so dear. Janie