Life in the early ’80’s;

The High School of Fashion Industries

A classroom in The High School Of Fashion Industries, New York City.
This may have been a room used for pattern making or draping.

In the early 1980’s I worked at The High School of Fashion Industries in New York City.

We were a group of six women and two men who were teachers of the deaf and ran a program within the building. We each taught several major subjects; a licensed teacher of the deaf must be able to teach preschoolers through high school, and high schoolers can be up to 21 years old. In addition, we had to accompany small groups of students into their vocational classes and interpret the lessons into sign language and assist them with their work.

I taught geometry, English, biology, sex education (that was funny) and on and on. I worked with the Fashion staff in art, interior design, pattern making, fashion design, fur design, garment construction, draping, and sewing. It was great.

One of our staff was Linda Anderson. Linda was a strong teacher who commuted for over an hour. I remember she’d get to school at about 7:15 a.m., fly in with her hair in rollers under a scarf and comb it out. Or she’d bring in her curling iron. She was tall, brunette, sweet, loving and kind. She frequently suffered with migraines. She wore contact lenses.

The trip got to be too much and she transferred closer to home to the Helen Keller Institute on Long Island, where she taught the deaf and blind.

Linda was a fabulous baker. I have always saved this recipe and I will share it with you.

Having a party? Make this! I call it Linda Anderson’s Double Chocolate Cheesecake.

Ingredients:

 Crust:

• 1-8 oz. package of chocolate wafers
• 6 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 tablespoon sugar

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Filling:

• 3 eggs
• ¾ cup sugar
• 24 oz. (1 ½ lbs.) cream cheese at room temperature
• 2 cups (12 oz.) semisweet chocolate morsels
• ½ tsp. almond extract
• dash salt
• 1 cup sour cream

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To Make Crust:

• Crush chocolate wafers in  a blender or food processor
• In a medium bowl, combine  crushed wafers, melted butter, and sugar
• Press around the sides of  a lightly buttered 9 “ spring form pan
• Bake crust in 350° oven  for 5 minutes
• set aside to cool

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To Make Filling:

• In a large bowl beat eggs with sugar until light and creamy
• Beat in softened cream cheese
• Add melted chocolate, vanilla, almond extract, salt and sour cream
• Beat until smooth and creamy

———————————————————————————————————–

Now, Make the Cake!

• Pour into prepared crust and bake in a 350º oven for one hour or until cheesecake is firm
• Cool completely, preferably overnight
• Sprinkle with almond slivers

Linda and I lost touch. I went on a teaching sabbatical in 1985, had my son in 1986, left the High School division and got a job closer to home. I became an educational evaluator; I assessed students with all handicaps, disabilities and placed them into programs to meet their needs.

One day I was redeployed to a school to do assessments. We worked in teams. That’s where I met Leslie, a school psychologist who was assigned to work with me. After we did our case study we went out to a nearby diner for lunch. It was 1987. Leslie had also worked at the Helen Keller Institute.“”Oh, so you must know Linda Anderson!,” I said happily, “How is she?”

Linda and her husband had gotten divorced; I think he had cheated on her. She was only in her 30’s.

She had been seeing an older gentleman, I believe from work, who helped her get her final wish.

Linda had been diagnosed with breast cancer and soon passed away; her gentleman friend made sure she was buried near the beautiful tree she chose.

My name is Sue, and a mammogram saved my life.

“Marching Bands Of Manhattan”
by Death Cab for Cutie

If I could open my arms
And span the length of the isle of Manhattan,
I’d bring it to where you are
Making a lake of the East River and Hudson
If I could open my mouth
Wide enough for a marching band to march out
They would make your name sing
And bend through alleys and bounce off all the buildings.I wish we could open our eyes
To see in all directions at the same time
Oh what a beautiful view
If you were never aware of what was around you
And it is true what you said
That I live like a hermit in my own head
But when the sun shines again
I’ll pull the curtains and blinds to let the light in.

Sorrow drips into your heart through a pinhole>
Just like a faucet that leaks and there is comfort in the sound
But while you debate half empty or half full
It slowly rises, your love is gonna drown

Your love is gonna drown
Your love is gonna…

On to Part 12: Fran Drescher

• * Stefany

Sue…another moving blog. You are a wonderful writer. Great song and lyrics. Thank you for sharing.

Monday October 8, 2007 – 06:03pm (EDT)

• Frank

I must keep my wife away from this recipe..She is a chocaholic.. This afternoon I asked her to make the kinishes from the website you gave me..She did very good, I’m stuffed won’t tell you how many I devoured and have 7 more to freeze till I have the need..On another site, I found the recipe for Moussaka, another need since I left Florida where the restaurant called Mr. Greek on Hollywood blvd.

Monday October 8, 2007 – 07:51pm (CDT)

• Kwika

A very moving story and there must be thousands of them around the world which is very sad. I’m going to try this cheese cake recipe but first what are choc morsels? are they like chocolate buttons?

Tuesday October 9, 2007 – 02:11pm (NZDT)

• Papa

Fascinating story about Linda who preceded your journey with her own struggle with breast cancer..her recipes perhaps are some very personal and fond memories of her..it also gave you a personal scenario to think about in your own struggle with this dreaded disease..strange how events in life seem related as if they were a story in a novel,but I am optimistic as to how your story will continue.~~Papa

Monday October 8, 2007 – 08:05pm (PDT)

• Tee-b…I will definitely try to make Linda Anderson’s Choc. Cheesecake one day soon….great blog, Sue!!

Tuesday October 9, 2007 – 07:55am (EDT)

• AB

I’ll try the cake thinking to your friend.I’ll call it Linda’s cake.:0)

Tuesday October 9, 2007 – 06:36pm (CEST)

• Joann…

Sue,Iread this story yesterday,it was so well written,I know Cheesecake i sa favorite,never had Choc kind, Jrs Cheesecake I had in Brooklyn-hugs I bet Lindas was really goo d hugs !

Tuesday October 9, 2007 – 01:07pm (EDT)

• Neil …

great song from a great album, Sue.

Tuesday October 9, 2007 – 11:48pm (BST)

• Haden…

Cheesecake–I’m a goner. That I will make.
Touching story-thank you for sharing.

Monday October 15, 2007 – 08:35am (VUT)

 

opossumd wrote on Oct 12, ’08 You have given us another involving, passionate, heart-breaking story, dear Sue. How can anyone be indifferent after reading it? I am very aware of your message; in fact I get mammograms on a regular basis and encourage my friends to do so as well. Thank you for your unabating commitment.

tylerh wrote on Oct 12, ’08 Glad to know you’re well.. my mother worked with special needs children, takes a special person to do that :o)

danceinsilence wrote on Oct 24, ’08 How remotely odd it would come back to you in such a way when you heard she died and how. Until I read the next part, I can’t really determine the impact of those words, though I can guess, but reserve myself. I put this page in my favorites so I can come back for the recipe. When I do bake it, it will be in her an also your honor. Besides it sounds yummy. Huggers 8=)

danceinsilence wrote on Oct 24, ’08 On to bed I go. But I will be back.