Not a Visitor From My Past! Or Was it?

Just to rub it in a bit to all my friends currently residing in cold climates, today was eighty-five degrees, sunny glorious tropical "winter" weather, in central Florida...that's a na na na na na na, sent special delivery to the frigid north.  Currently there are many New England visitors at my place of employment, many coincidentally from Connecticut.  My name tag announces my former place of residence....Baltic, Ct. Some question, "I'm from Connecticut, where is Baltic?"  All one has to mention is the word casino, then EVERYBODY knows the general vicinity.  Few question, "Are you part of the Norwich-New London  area?" Of course it's easy to answer, "yes," but I prefer to say, "It is the largest of the three villages comprising the Town of Sprague."  A few look at you or better yet, through you, simply saying, "Oh that's nice!" Other's give you "the what the f*#k" look, quickly moving on.  Occasionally, one might get the reaction, "that's nice, never heard of it."  But I have never had a reaction such as I received today.  "OMG, you won't believe me, but I love Baltic, I met my husband there, I have friends that still live there, I go back every few years, I graduated from the Academy of the Holy Family, many many years ago, we would walk all over the little Town, sneaking away from the nuns.  This very lopsided conversation continued for some time, with my new found friend, emotional beyond words, totally thrilled she knew the village.  She mentioned Fred's News and how she loved the old Coca-Cola cooler.  I attempted  many times to ask her name, but she was on a roll.  She mentioned Sister Mercedes, Mother Theresita, Mother Alma, Sister Jude, Father Spindler and many others.  She NEVER took a breath, was completely overwhelmed she'd met someone from her past! Side bar here- I'd NEVER seen her before and although there have been times, I'd forget a name, I NEVER forget a face.  So as HER conversation continued, she mentioned long walks to the Baltic Reservoir, school dances at St. Thomas More all boys school, school mates, but only one local name, Denise, got to admit, I know a few with that moniker. I tried to figure her age, maybe forty-five to fifty.

As I attempted to question, the now gasping for air, slightly pudgy, middle aged woman, I received a call, I was needed in the dining room.  I quickly excused myself, asking her wait, I would return.  As I walked, I scanned the area for a familiar face, hoping for a glimpse of the man she had married.  Remember, he supposedly came from Baltic.  Finishing my business, I quickly returned to the scene of this strange meeting, hoping it would be my turn to interrogate.  Alas, this strange, yet intriguing , sort of, kind of middle aged, frosted hair, slightly rotund woman had vanished.  Puff gone bye-bye.  

As I looked around the area, I wondered, perhaps she would return.  She knew lots about Baltic, I knew NOTHING about her.  She knew Fred's News, yet hadn't really mentioned the owners.  As an investigator, I did pick up on the fact that she loved to smoke in the place, the Sisters wouldn't let them at school.  They way I figure it, that little tidbit covers about ninety-nine percent of the former students, so there's no following up on that lead!  Perhaps I will see her again, this time I will be ready!  One of my Cast Members approached me, "Diane, is that one of your friends?, She was so happy to see you!  She told me to tell you goodbye, they were flying home, she'll see you next time!"  Oh great, my new best friend, who I have never seen before, gets to tell me everyone she remembers during her earlier life, places she'd been, including my "home",(Fred's News), consumed food in "my kitchen", then a quickly as our friendship "resumes", poof, it abruptly ends, again!  Suddenly, I have a flash...."Did she leave a name? I anxiously question my Cast Member.  "Nope, she said "she'll see you next time and to tell you, thanks for all the memories, it was  so much fun talking to you!"  Ooookay, right!