Betsy and I have been friends since 5th grade. I do not remember how the friendship blossomed (Bets – do you?) – but it must have been a pretty instantaneous connection.
The main thrust of the start of our friendship was our shared love (should we say OBSESSION) for the musical of “Oliver”. We went into a world of our own with this obsession. We would sit on top of the jungle gym at recess and sing through the entire score, song by song, with a crowd of children listening to us. We were a Rhode Island version of Maria Von Trapp, apparently.
Betsy and I wrote a book together. It was called “What Lies Below the Well”. I wish I still had that manuscript. It was a mixture of Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, and Oliver Twist.
At one point, one character peers down the well and says, “I see something down there!”
Another character says, “What do you see?”
First character replies, “A long thin winding staircase without any bannister!”
See, I STILL think that’s funny.
Imagine how thrilled we were when, in 6th grade, the school musical was announced, and it was going to be “Oliver”.
Betsy (11 years old) was cast as Nancy, the whore with a heart of gold.
I was cast as the Artful Dodger, the mischievous pickpocket who acts as Oliver’s guide. “Consider yourself – AT home – Consider yourself – one of the family…” I even did a Cockney accent. And our other friend J. was cast as Fagan. She was the wild card. She hadn’t expected to get a big part – I still remember her huge glimmering eyes when the cast list was read out.
Betsy and J. and I leapt up and down in the hallways at school, when we heard the news, and cried, and hugged. We were out of our minds!
Other jokes through the years:
— We always spoke in English accents. We thought people would be impressed. Why I have no idea.
— We would walk from her house to the gym on the University campus after school and go swimming for an hour. Chattering the entire time to one another in English accents. For some reason, we liked to pretend that we had to walk 20 miles to get to the gym. That was part of our game. One or the other of us would sigh, in a British accent, “10 more miles!”
— We used to sit in her room after school and tape ourselves doing skits which we thought were supremely hilarious. Betsy would play her autoharp and I would sing. Now THAT is a funny image. The autoharp!!
— Betsy’s father, an Episcopal priest, ran a camp in the north of Rhode Island – a work camp. It was a tree farm, and kids would flock to the camp every summer to work the tree farm. A work camp where you would have Bible study classes, and go out and cut trees down all day. I know, it sounds so fun, right? I went every summer. Even though I am Catholic. It was so freakin’ FUN. There was one week called “Music Camp”, which was hilariously fun. The whole camp took music workshops, acting workshops, put on a musical … All while living in little cabins in the woods, and working on the tree farm as well. We would wake up at 7 in the morning and all run to go to church, which was held in a huge drafty barn. I guess you could say I had some of my first intense spiritual experiences at camp. God seemed realler there. And now – in a beautiful “all is right with the world” kind of way: Betsy runs Music Camp.
— There have been times when I laughed so hard with Betsy I thought I might perish off the face of the earth.
— One day, in high school, during “spirit week” (did you all ever have spirit week? School spirit week – where one day would be Hawaiian Day, one day would be Pajama Day – and you would come to school in costumes?) Anyway, Betsy and Mere, another great friend, were hanging out in the school library in their pajamas, during study hall. They were in a slapstick mood. Wearing your pajamas as you ride a school bus will do that to you. They had waterguns, and they began to chase each other through the stacks, ambushing each other in true Charlie’s Angels style. Mrs. Wood, the rather imperious librarian, came around the corner and said, sternly, “Girls. Do I need to send you down to the principal’s office, or do you need a babysitter?” Bad move – to give the girls a choice. Betsy and Mere glanced at each other, then looked back at Mrs. Wood and said, in unison: “I think we need a babysitter.”
— Betsy made her own dress for the senior prom. A lace extravaganza the exact style of which, unfortunately, ended up on a Leeza Gibbons show many years later, entitled: “Embarrassing Fashions from the 80s.” It’s okay, Bets. You looked great.
— Betsy is one of the most loving supportive and friendly women I know. She is “good people”, you know what I mean? She understands struggle – she is one of those people that you can go to with your problems, or when you’re panicking about something stupid – because she will understand.
— She never really says what you might expect her to say. Her wisdom is her own.
You’re the best, dear Betsy. Happy birthday.
Wow – Thanks Sheila – I’m reading this at work and I’m a little emotional! We met at Michele’s birthday party when we were 10. We went to different schools at the time, but lo and behold, I came to South Road in 5th grade and we both had Ms. Rogers. We wrote the book that year and we won 3rd place in the talent show singing “On a Wonderful Day Like Today” – with choreography (which I could probably still perform if asked). I am blessed with the gift of friends that go back as far as you and Michele (and then Beth and Mere not too long after) – I love you guys!
What a friendship!
I am minded, however, of one of our school’s spirit days… when the student council president organized a walk-out as a protest. I _think_ we were protesting the banning of the drum corp going through the halls to call us to the homecoming assembly. (It was too disruptive, or something.)
But, this was done on Pajama Day. So, there are students streaming out of class into the park outside the school, all in their PJ’s. Hilarious!
A work camp where you would have Bible study classes, and go out and cut trees down all day.
What the…? Is that even legal?
Mark – hahahahaha I know – I would tell people, “Yeah, I go work on a tree farm in the summer and go to church every morning and it’s the best camp ever!” and the response would be:
????????
melissa – that is hilarious!!!
Bets – wow, very good memory. I just have a feeling that once you came to our school we just clicked immediately. Like we wasted no time before we took over the jungle gym for our daily medley sing-alongs.
And I so remember that talent show – and it was outside, right?? I felt like we were stars.
Oh and how could I forget you and I posing as gypsies at the school carnival and sitting in that hot lean-to we made – wearing gypsy dresses – and we would give people bogus palm readings.
I also remember that that day at the carnival an enormous bug landed on your arm (do you remember this?) and you suddenly freaked OUT and started whirling around and around and around on the playground, screaming at the top of your lungs, trying to get it off you. The funny thing is is that you were dressed as a GYPSY so you had a shawl, and big hoop earrings – and so you were this whirling screaming gypsy.
Betsy IS very “good people.” What a beautiful post. Don’t know what I’d do without her!
Susanna
“heavans to Betsy! She’s dead!”
i spelled “heaven” wrong…FIGURES!
I think it was my brother who made up that line??? He was the cop who came running onto the scene, I know that. i have a picture of the moment, Betsy lying dead in her blazing orange dress, Brendan standing over her. It’s hysterical.
aahh- South Road School- the carnival- also known as “Fair Day”, in which each classroom decides what type of fair day event they will run. Clearly you were involved with sort of gypsy fortune telling event. Some classrooms would do three legged races, or guess how much candy in the jar, or some such thing. I hate that the school no longer exists as we knew it. boo hoo.
And more importantly, how was Sheila invited to Michele’s birthday party at 10 years old pre-Betsy? How did you know Michele? Wasn’t she at the Catholic School? Why do I not know this? It is really bothering me! ha ha
Beth – wait a second, hmmm I know I knew her from Christ the King. We were in sunday school together. And I was really good friends with Glenda (RIP) and they were really good friends too and didn’t Michele go to south road?? am i insane?? Someone needs to clarify.
And every time I drive by south road I feel a little pang.
OK- this is how it goes – Betsy and I were next door neighbors – and great friends from the 3rd grade on….but, I went to South Road and Besty went to West Kingston Elem…. a total demographic screw-up if you ask me! Anyway, Sheila and I were at South Road together – remember Mrs Kahn and Keith McKauliffe with the comb??? and we became fast friends–but I didnt chase the comb…anyway, I have my 10th Birthday party and I invite Sheila, Betsy, Glenda, Debbie McNab, Dee Dee Sormanti etc…and presto! Sheila and Betsy connect – and when Betsy is rightfully (demographically) placed at South Road in the 5th grade…all is made right with the universe and a wonderful friendship is formed. BUT its is all WRONG when my parents send me to MSGR Clarke in the 5th grade (how I hated that school) and break up the holy trilogy – I am just glad that we all kept in touch and Jan Grant can take that credit! Anyway, lots of fond memories!!! Congrats to Sheila and the new positions – I have some wonderful pics of Beth I can’t wait to share with you!!!! HAAAAAA HAAAAAA!!!!:}
Oh – Happy Belated Birthday to Betsy – I always think of you on the 12th of March!!!! XXOO Happy 40th~
the holy trilogy … hahahaha Yes … my mind is going with old age … of course we were in south road together! And please with all the names you throw into the picture – whatever happened to Dee Dee???
And I’m having drinks next week with Keith, and perhaps I will steal his comb again. Old habits die hard.
Isn’t it funny how our paths crossed, re-crossed, diverged, and came back together? I love that.
Drinks with Keith – you lucky girl – I couldn’t even get a kind word off of him in the 4th grade!!!! Ha! Give him my best! Anyway, oh my God – I was going to wait until I see you to tell the Dee-Dee story -and I think I will because it is some what sorted! But all is well that ends well – and every one is fine – not dead – even though my father told me differently! AAAUUUH! Ha – When will you be back in town? We must get together – and drag Betsy down on this thing too! Do tell darling!
AAnnnddd – I will thow in this for measure…IF YOU BRING ME HIS COMB I WILL GRANT YOUR THREE WISHES….how about that!!!!! HHHa :}
I’m coming home for Easter but only for 24 hours – less than 24 hours … we’ll ahve to get together in April!! I’m dying for a little get-together with you guys.
Okay, I’m gonna steal Keith’s comb and bring it to you – otherwise you may force me to prick my finger on a steering wheel and THEN where would I be??
YOU WILL FALL INTO A DEEP SLEEP LASTING 100 YEARS! MMMMHHHHUUUUHHHAAA!
BUT!
it must be a comb with a really curvy fat handle, not a regular comb. You know- a 70’s,plastic wide tooth comb that fits perfectly into your back pocket to feather your perfect hair.
PS Tell Keith I said hi
PPS Michele- I will pay you TOP DOLLAR to NOT show those pictures to anyone. I haven’t even see them yet, but I can only imagine….
This is one of the funniest conversations ever. Go back and read it from start to finish and see what I mean. I am shaking with laughter.
And yes – those 70s combs. God, remember those horrible things???
Yes, this will go down in blog history as one of the funniest-yet most enlightening- conversations ever. How did we never have this conversation in real life? Crazy…
Michele- will you be at the Silent Auction/Fasion Show on Weds. night for your son’s school? I am attending with my friend Meredith. (Not to be confused with OUR Meredith, or my sister Meredith!!!!)
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