Meeting Her

Meeting Her

Robin Elizabeth Rogers

Found this picture on Katie's post.  But guess what I took it- HA!  Robin at Wild Animal Park

Let's see... I was 11 or 12 years old at the time. I was in the 6th grade. We were what were commonly referred to as 'navy brats', which I'd say one of my brothers 'SCOTT' would say I lived up to the name quite well in deed. Ohhhh, what does he know? Anyway, we lived in the 'housing', which was the Silver Strand Navy housing in Coronado, CA. I had lived there since I was 5 years old.

I had seen a lot of people come and go in our housing.  Frankly, I think that was part of the reason people didn't customarily get to know one another too well, they knew one or the other of you are soon to be moving on.  I guess it can be kind of heart wrenching, it hadn't been for me yet.  It was just they way things were.  

A little background on ME, I am the 4th of six kids.  Little fact -all of our initials spell a word, like mine spelled SLY (cool right?).  My dad was career Navy and was originally from New Hampshire (cold weather).  In the housing we lived on Saipan Road, which was the furthest most street from the Strand Highway and closest to our elementary school, Silver Strand Elementary School.  I learned a lot of things living in the 'strand', like my address and my phone number and how to ride skateboards, throw footballs and eventually make a life long friend.

Up until now I'd say I hadn't developed any meaningful friendships in my neighborhood or school.  There were a few kids I hung around with and certainly ones I'd known since kindergarten, but nobody I had as my own pal.  I hadn't thought much about it really until this point.  I was getting older, come on, a girl needs a buddy she can hang with and tell secrets to...  Someone she can spend the night with and talk all night long to.

Well recently I had noticed a new family had moved into our block.  In fact, they moved right across the street from us.  Hmmmm, I wonder what they're like?  I see one real cute guy (later found out this was Dennis) riding his bike, popping wheelies, WOW!  And I notice too that there are some younger boys playing around.  They look a little wild to me (later come to find out that this was Chip and Jon).  Of course I'm not letting them know that I even noticed that they've moved in- that would be a kid faux pas.  Well honestly there isn't much of interest for me there, no girls ugh!  Oh well.

A few days later, I'm sitting in my class, with my great teacher Mr. McLaughlin, hanging on his every word... Ok, maybe not.  And in walk a school aide and a new student.  When she walked in, there were a lot of 'ewwws' being said.  I looked to see what the noise was about and I'm sorry to say it was about Robin, she had a very red bumpy face from a form of acne (it was her body chemicals/hormones going haywire).  I couldn't believe how mean people can be.  I really felt heartache for her.  I determined then that I would make her feel real welcome no matter what I do.  Luckily for me our teacher put her right next to me!  I smiled at her hoping to make her feel better.  Now I wasn't the bravest person meeting strangers and all... and she didn't seem like she was in a very good mood, I mean really who would've been with a class greeting like that?  So I figured I'd give her a little time and 'greet her' later when I could... maybe on the playground.  I realized pretty quickly that she was my new neighbor and that there weren't just boys at that house there was a girl too!

Mr. McLaughlin asked Robin if she had a pencil to do class work, she said no.  I seized the opportunity and gave her one of mine.  I whispered my name and told her she was my neighbor.  I thought she'd maybe be a real fun friend for me.  I was wrong she was a GREAT FRIEND.  We quickly became inseparable.  Her house was my house (whether her dad approved or not - her mom was more generous about my constant appearances).  Her heartaches were mine.  Her music taste was similar - Donnie Osmond and the Osmond Brothers was the rage, but Robin and I really liked Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five better. She clearly had some street smarts and I had none.

We were in 6th grade and just beginning to understand that family isn't always blood.  Sometimes it's that girl across the street     named Robin.

Me around the time I met Robin.