A Walking Group Story

 

By John F. Tomczak

 

The walking group members come with their own experiences and stories. It takes a bit of time but once the people get to know one another and are comfortable you begin to hear the stories. Usually what you hear is a lot of laughter as people slowly come to realize that so many of life’s experiences are common to all.  Once in a while you hear a conversation between two people that turns out to be one of those hilarious stories, while true, is hard to believe.

 

I noticed two ladies who were quietly talking to one another during our refreshment time in a volunteer’s home. The conversation went from the weather to when the loved ones died to where they lived and so on. One of the ladies remarked that she had gone to Oak Bay High School and wondered what had happened to the class’ trouble maker. She went on to say that she actually was a lot of fun and after taking a bit of time remembered her name which was Anne. There was a long pause and then the other lady said, “My God I thought I recognized you from Oak Bay and I am Anne.”

 

The laughter, tears and hugs were a sight to behold.  By this time the entire Walking Group was conscious that something special was going on. When the hugging and tears had calmed down I said, “Come on you two, let us in on all these tears and hugs.”

 

Anne said, “I was the class trouble maker and in fact I was such a pain that I was banished to Australia to live with my Grandmother.  While I grew up and got over my role as a trouble maker, I married a very nice man. We were very happy but when he died I wanted to return to Victoria and here I am.  I remember those fun days at Oak Bay High and I sure remember my friend here.”

 

There was another round of tears and hugging and then Anne’s friend said, “Actually Anne wasn’t all that bad. She just had to have fun all the time and needled the teachers now and then. I missed her and I have never forgotten her in all these years. I thought sending her to Australia was a bit much and somewhat like the olden days when convicts were sent there.”   

 

As one who is always fascinated with numbers; I have thought about the odds of these two people meeting under these circumstances.  Maybe it is best not to wonder but rather just enjoy being a part of such a wonderful story.  During the rest of the walks I noticed they were constantly together chatting away catching up on the past years.