Nine Minutes with Dorothy
Nine Minutes with Dorothy
I have this lil older lady friend named Dorothy. I think Dorothy must be almost 80ish. She is one of those people that if your lucky, truly lucky, you’ll get to meet a soul like hers in your lifetime.
Dorothy has lived on the same corner since, well, I think it became a corner. She and her hubby are from the prairies and they are as down home as it gets. I’ve been visiting Dorothy for about 20 years now. She is actually an Aunt of an old flame and I guess when things don’t turn out you have to take the good and leave the rest. So I got Dorothy!!!!!!!
Dorothy is what I call soft eccentric. She always has on a brightly colored dress that she gets at church sales usually, with of course, matching huge clip on earrings and a matching fancy shmanzy, that’s a word now, necklace.
She doesn’t get her hair done on Mondays anymore, which she has done since forever. It’s too much for her now. Of course I have another friend I check in on too that does hair so I’ll make it happen, even if she has to go to her home. Anyway, the cutest thing about Dorothy is she always, and I mean always, has laundry on her line. It could be a snow storm and dark and rain and blizzard like, whatever, she has her stuff out !!! Even unmentionables, which of course I won’t mention!!! It kills me, laughing wise. Sometimes if I haven’t called in advance or if I am just in the area I will drive by, and when I see clothes I know she’s A ok.
Sometimes I think that Dorothy’s hubby is a little leery of me, maybe he’s afraid of me? Even still after 20 years, he seems a lil suspicious. Maybe it’s just me? Here is this lady that drops in and takes his wife to Mayday and stuff. Maybe it’s just his prairie way?
One day however I popped in to say hello and have a cup of tea in her bargain tea cups. Usually mismatched, which really are the best! Its so funny how she can afford the finest but is happy with her church sale thrifty cups and saucers. I think it makes her tea better really. She always has cookies which is my fave since I have no Grandparents left. She says “Dear” about 30 times per minute and always is fussing about with her hair saying it needs this or that. She likes being complimented on her flamboyant outfits and they always come with a story.
The years have been tough on Dorothy but she loves life and worries about her children, one of which will need assisted living when she goes.
Dorothy is particularly fond of my son who shares her sister’s birthday. She always has a little box of slowpokes for him and a card, sometimes with another named scratched out!!! These are my absolute favorite because it really shows her character. She will save cereal box toys and although my son is older now, I am so proud when he accepts them humbly and thanks her with the utmost respect and then after refers to them fondly.
One particular day I stopped by and I heard the faint sounds of a distant woodwind. It sounded like an ole phonograph to be true. Her hubby has a vast collection of old instruments and I mean old. Some of his woodwinds are actually made of wood.
I followed the sound down the hall after asking if it was ok to go say hello. When I got to the partially opened door I peeked in to find her hubby playing this old amazing clarinet. He stopped. I asked that he please play on. He finished his song and made some excuses about it not being tuned maybe. He had a Dairyland crate next to him with piles of complicated sheet music that intrigued me. We usually don’t have so many words for each other but when I sat next to him he said what do you want to hear? He was playing I’m In the Mood for Love, and old old song. I mentioned that I played and he gave me a look like I was trying to say anything to impress him. He quickly gave me another clarinet out of his collection to play. He shaves the reed so thin that the sounds that it creates are something else. I was a lil nervous with this impromptu offer. The last time I played after the orchestra I was in was for my son when he was small. He loved to hear the ABC song and twinkle twinkle, BaBa Black sheep and stuff, plus it made me look like a genius Mom!. I still don’t think my son knows that all three songs are the exactly the same notes just different words.
Anyway, without much practice I started to play one of these complicated sheets he had. I swear I didn’t think I would do so well. The look of disbelief was all over his aged face when I actually played it correct. After a few bars he sat back like he was really listening and after he said. You know, you really don’t get to hear how great the tone is unless someone else is playing. Which made me feel like my tone was still as good as my embrasure. I was amazed to see that my playing seemed to impress him.
Little did he know that I was having a rough day? I never unload my problems on them I just go by to get some cheering up. This particular day was rough for me. I had no idea that sitting with him and playing an old licorice stick with vaguely familiar tunes made my day the most amazing ever.
I used to threaten to play my clarinet when my old room mate Diane got upset with me. How mad can you be with someone playing The Elephant Walk and following you around the house? Oh the fun I had when I was 20! It worked every time! Just the threats of me saying “don’t make me break out my clarinet” usually made her change her tune.
So I guess that serendipity is still my friend. Just playing along with a seasoned musician can change your day and to be true, it was one of the best visits and most memorable one I probably will ever have there and I am so grateful to have such special folks in my life.
I called Dorothy today. Usually when I ring I get to yak for about 5 minutes. I suppose she knows how busy I am these days that I got more time this call, a full nine minutes my phone read. I am so grateful she’s OK. and I, am the luckiest lady to share a part of her day.
Posted: January 17th, 2008 under Journal Entries.
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