Growing up I didn't have a tremendous amount of folks whom I would consider to be real "true" friends, you know, the kind of person I am talking about.... Someone who likes you - openingly and sincerely, no matter if the other kids do or not, or if others torment you, no matter how many boogers are clinging inside your nose... they still seem to want to hang out with you and be your friend.
Well Beth Hart, sure had to put up with a whole lot of crusty boogers to overlook cuz she didn't care what the other kids would say, or how any one else felt about me, or what their opinion might have been, she decided - for whatever the reasons - to be my friend and did so when I needed it the most.
It was the fall of 1984 and time for public school to begin again at Southern High School that foggy August morning. There was a chill in the air along with the faint smell of "freshman fear", a trace of mouth wash and vomit, and as you entered the double doors to the front lobby of the high school, that familiar school smell....a cross between the smell of bleach, window cleaner, vo-ban, and stale locker smell.
Everyone has a difficult time adjusting to new and foreign things especially when you are still very young and dare I say even, sheltered and nieve. I hated school from really early on. I never wanted to go, not ever. I didn't want to go to the Racine Kindergarten afternoon class with Miss Jean, I didn't want to go to first grade at the Racine Elementary School with Mrs. Hill, I was scared beyond belief to go to school for the second grade at the Tuppers Plains Elementary School conducted downstairs in a dark room with Mrs. Trip. I was so scared that I took my mom's old expired OU Employee License card that had her picture on it with me to school and would situate it in the front corner of my desk so I could see her picture whenever I needed to see her face.
Third grade (with Mrs. Brennan) was really no better but at least that was when I first was introduced to performing in a stage show with Mrs. Maxine Whitehead, our music director. She produced an annual operetta for the grade schools in the Eastern School district and boy could she play the piano. The show was "The Adventures of Pinocchio" and I played the role of the puppet master known as the Fire Eater (Strombolo). Being in the show made having to go to school much more bearable and honestly was the only reason I would go, knowing that I had rehearsal to look forward to.
Fourth grade with Mr. Gumpf was a little better but fifth grade with Mr. Saunders was back to being tough. Going into Mr. Weber's sixth grade started the time for those boys who seemed to tolerate my presence were starting to pull away from me, spending less time around me, saying things about queers and fags in my presence. And whether all of them truly thought those things, they all said things since the others were. I couldn't understand what had changed or why now they didn't like me anymore.
Going into Junior High School, Mom and Lori and I moved from the farm in Reedsville to Racine to live next to Grandma and Grandpa Stobart on their land. Mom bought a new mobile home trailer and set it up there. Junior High School was difficult as it is for everyone...not primarily due to the torments of the kids, but because 2 of my teachers.... were close relatives of mine. One taught math Mr Hilton Wolfe (uncle Big Fooze), one taught English and Grammar Mrs. Delores Wolfe (aunt). And although they were my aunt and uncle, they were not married to each other, rather each to another aunt and uncle. They had extremely high expectations of me and my performance and when I would fall short, they would shame me in front of everyone else. Uncle Big Fooze shocked the hell out of me the first time he yelled....no.... screamed at the class for not knowing the answers to our previous night's homework. I was embarrassed by his behavior and was terrified. I remember ending my bedtime prayers each night with... "and please don't let Uncle Big yell at me tomorrow".
Now onto Freshman year... shy and awkward, purposely looking at newly polished tiled floor in the entrance to the school, pretending not to hear the comments, I made my way in to the gymnasium and took a seat as far away from where the other students had congregated. Classes where divided, homerooms established and away we went. At lunch that same day Beth Hart appeared. Having been a playmate of mine and Lori's while we were very small, Beth came to me right away. From that point on, Beth made the rest of my time as a Freshman tolerable, fun, and made it enjoyable enough to keep going back. Because I honestly was so close to never going back and giving up. Beth made me feel special. She noticed me. She asked my opinion, she invited me to go to the movies or to go bowling or whatever. She and Lisa (Deem) were my friends. And when I was with them, no one seemed to say anything mean to me. Probably because they knew she would kick their ass no questions asked.
Today I got to meet Beth for lunch after such a long time. Hadn't gotten to see her in years but it was as if no time had passed and we hugged in the parking lot and never stopped talking or giggling until we parted our ways a few hours later. It was so wonderful to see her, to talk to her... she looks as beautiful as ever and is as silly and fun as ever!
Growing up Beth always got the bum wrap at some things. Jealous girls would say dumb things about her, and she would be blamed for things that she didn't do. But no matter what, she was fun loving and such an inspirational person to be around. And I know that I am a better person for knowing her! I truly believe in my heart that it had not been for Beth, I doubt that I would have continued on with school, and for that I will always be grateful!
