On Thursday, Lexie was going to a performance at the high school she will attend in September. She told me they will be dismissed at 2:11 and are on their own to get home. She asked if I would pick her up. Of course I would as it's about a 45 minute walk along a busy road and the weather forecast was for rain. I got there 15 minutes early as it was just after our volunteer lunch and managed to find a parking spot in a very crowded parking lot. There were cars all along the street and lining the driveway of the school. It was pretty much a gong show. Of course on our way home I told her how I walked four miles to school, in the snow with no boots. She knows me well and knew I was pulling her leg. Although we did walk to school but times were different.
When I was three I asked my mom to take me to Stanley Park. It was 21 KM from where we lived. She said "not today". I really didn't care my mom wouldn't take me because I was a very independent child. I walked to the bus stop and got on the Smith Avenue bus to the Joyce Road loop. When I got to Joyce Road, I knew the bus to take because my mom had taken me to the park and I had a good memory. I believe it was the bus driver on the second bus that realized I was alone. He called the Vancouver Police who took me to a catholic nun house. The police informed my parents where I was and they came and picked me up. My mom said "why didn't you tell the police your name, address and phone number"? I said "they didn't ask". My mom never forgot the nuns who kept me safe and donated to their residence until the early 90's when they closed. I never knew about the donations until I went through her personal papers after she passed away. I found this yellow post it note that she kept!
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When the residence was closing my mom sent them a thank you letter!
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Last night I was talking to my cousin Dale who is two months younger than I am. She said her mom would not let her leave the yard when she was a child. My mom let me have the run of the neighbourhood. Of course that was long after the talk of "you never get on a bus without your mother". I was never allowed to go into Central Park but could be anywhere I could hear her whistle and my mom was a great whistler. I would be out for long periods of time but knew when I heard the whistle, I better get home real quick. Times have changed. In our old Steveston neighbourhood our neighbours had chairs in the front of their homes and would watch their children play street hockey or ride their bikes. They were never let out without a parents eyes watching them at all times. It's sad it's come to this but you really can't blame parents for being so protective.
Whenever I hear of a missing child, my heart breaks for the parents and I realize what I put my mom through. Over the years, she mentioned it many times. Especially when Cheryl was small.
