One thing you should know about me, is that I hated growing up where I did. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Grade school was a misery, and high school was something I endured. I never fit in. I was The Cure fan, in the land of Brooks and Dunn. I did my high school career in 4 years, when the standard at the time was 5. A very good friend asked me recently why I did that. And I told her that I was miserable here. I just didn’t feel like I belonged.
I realize now that that statement is a disservice to my high school friends. I had a great group of girls I hung out with, and a group of guys as well. It was the mean girls who were a problem. And mostly grade school was the problem. I came home from grade school on the bus in tears more times than I care to remember. I know exactly who to blame, but I’m not going to name names, because I’ve made my peace with who was, in my mind, the greatest perpetrator.
Anyway, the bad memories from grade school bled over into high school, and I just knew I needed to get out, and go to Toronto. It was always Toronto. I felt like I could find my tribe there. And my sister was in college there, so I wasn’t going in without some backup.
My support system in high school was under-appreciated at the time. I don’t even remember how or when we started talking, or who made the first overture back in 1984. I’m just glad the friendships started. I realize now how they got me through, even though it was a major struggle back then. I’ve been reflecting a lot on my life as time passes by, and I appreciate those women and men more than I’m sure they know. I had found my tribe, I just didn’t know it at the time.
RC Country Life 