I came across my grade 6 class picture a couple of days ago. I’m not in it for some reason. But as I looked from one student to the next, and remembered their names, each was accompanied by a short flash of memory.
John Shaw: even though he grew up on a farm, he was convinced chocolate milk came from brown cows. Danny Manship: my first kiss. Darlene Yuck: my only enemy. Barbara D: my best friend.
I saw her once, after we’d both grown up. She looked me up and we met for coffee. She told me that she’d gotten pregnant at 16, and she and her boyfriend got married. When she went into labour he took her to the hospital in Arnprior and, as her labour progressed, he began to panic. By the time they reached the delivery room, he was saying things like “Oh my god, I never wanted to get married, I never wanted a wife and kid, what have I done, oh my god, oh my god oh my god!”
Finally the obstetrician looked him in the eye and said “Look, if you can’t be more helpful than that, then get out.”
He didn’t have to be told twice.
He left.
Barbara never saw him again.
A few days later, the obstetrician felt so bad about having inadvertently delivered the death blow to the marriage, he invited Barbara and her infant son to come live with him and his wife until she got back on her feet.
She stayed with them for six months, then struck out on her own, determined to make a fresh start in life.
She left Arnprior and moved to Ottawa. She cut all ties with her very odd family. She changed both her first and last names to something of her own choosing. She got an apartment and a job. She raised her child.
I wonder how she’s doing now. If I could remember the new name she chose for herself, I’d look her up right now and ask her.
You mean chocolate milk doesn’t come from brown cows?? Next you’ll be telling me milkshakes don’t come from nervous cows.
Wow. That story knocked the wind out of me.
I hope you find her again some day, whatever her name is now.
For some odd reason, I loved this post. I think it shows how weird connections bring about change in people. I suspect Barbara D. has done well and not much would keep her down for long.
On a completely different note, I’d like to put a media plug for a friend. My friend L. is having a huge backyard party this weekend (they have it every year). She has two bands – Rudeboy is for the Saturday Dance-Night and The Mighty PoPo for Sunday afternoon. They are $10 per concert.
Very ecclectic mix of people and definitely pagan/wicca influenced . 6378 McDonald’s Corners Road (also known as Lanark County Road #12). 3 km west of McDonald’s Corners village.
Oh somedays I would love to do what Barbara did – well not completely – I love my family – and I’d have to bring Dave and my cats (but not Dave’s family). But I’d love to just get up and move and start somewhere fresh!
When there’s a will, there’s a way.
I think that you will find that she has been following you all these years…you will hear from her…Just my opinion
I reckon then that the herd of black cattle we saw over by Campbellford will someday be black leather jackets draped across the shoulders of hipsters in watering holes across the land…
Oh, I feel for Barbara D. I hope you can find her and catch up with her and find out she’s doing well. They were so young, I feel for both of them, even though the boyfriend really should have come back.
I have a feeling you will meet her again Zoom. I wonder if she keeps in touch with the obstetrician? All the Nancy Drew’s I read are coming to mind…
simply, i love this post!