Not Proud of Myself!

Last night I spent hours trying to organize old pictures. The whole time I was really telling myself off for not being like my daughter-in-law Andrea and having pictures in books where they belong. She is one of those that can make a photo album into a piece of art.

I also finally threw out a bunch of ole pic's of me and the idiot. Yeah I saved a few but most are gone as soon as the trash man picks them up. I dumped last nights leftovers on top of them so I would not go back to the bag and rethink what I had done.

That is a question I have pondered for a long time now. What do you do with pictures of the ex? Do you keep them or do you throw them away. He threw me away for a bimbo so why have I not thrown his pictures away. Any ideas?

Okay enough of that nonsense that is not my reason for coming by this morning. It's this picture above I found and brought back hilarious and sad memories of the two standing here together. On the left with the long black hair in much need of some bangs and a haircut is Moi'. Yep I was born with black hair and yes it is hard to believe the color of it now. Beside me is Linda a girlfriend of mine since childhood. We grew up together and for years I was madly in love with her brother Tommy. Oh my gosh how he made my heart sing. Another post some day.

Years after we both graduated and I moved to the small town I now live in Linda came back into my life needed a place to live. It did not work out for us because sadly I found out the hard way that she had a serious drinking problem and I had three small children to consider.

The story I wanted to share with you is one I am not proud of how I handled the situation. As I mentioned I was single at the time with three small babies and working two and three jobs. It was a week before Christmas and I had one day off to do all my shopping. Some how Linda found out that I was driving to a mall in Houston to Christmas shop. She phoned me early that morning asking if she could come along. After numerous episodes of dealing with Linda on outings I told her no that I had only this day to buy everything on my list and I could not put up with her and shop too. She was not one to take no for an answer. I found her in my car waiting on me when I went out to get in my car.

We drive twenty three miles to the first little town towards Houston and Linda says pull into a little store Maggie and I will buy us a Dr. Pepper for the trip. I told her I was okay but like I mentioned she did not take No for an answer.

I pulled in to a convenience store and I sit waiting on her to come back out. Realizing she had spent way too much time getting our drinks I go inside. She was not at the counter so I walk to the back of the store. There Linda was standing at the cooler not the soft drink coolers but the beer coolers. She was happily downing what she could manage of a six pack before I walked up and scared the crap out of her.

I think I yelled at her so loud she dropped the one in her hand. I remember thinking how could anyone do this. Here was a beautiful young woman standing at a cooler inside a store gulping beer.

I took what was left of the six pack made her pay the guy and we got back in the car. I was furious! She knew how angry I was and immediately started the pleading of it won't happen again and please please don't take her back home because she had shopping to do too.

Can you believe I was stupid enough to keep driving to Houston. I remember at one point on the trip Linda looked into the vanity mirror on her side and said, "God I am Beautiful!" I don't think if I live to be a hundred I will ever forget her doing this. lol

We make it to the mall and the first store I walk into is a Sears. I wanted to find some shirts for my brothers before I started buying for the kids. Linda pretended to be looking for a shirt for her brother and I look up from the shirts and I actually see her running for the doors that led to the rest of the mall.

I think I just shook my head and thought I guess I can shop easier without her. Who knows what my pea brain was thinking. It needed help anyway for bringing her.

Late that afternoon I had already made several trips to the car with packages but I remember having a doll of Christi's in my hand and some other toys when I see a police officer pulling a young lady by the arm and she is not following along very easily. It took a second for the truth to registrar that it was my Linda. The one I brought with me to shop.

She spots me just at that moment and starts screaming. That's my friend Maggie! Officer I told you I had a friend here. Then she starts hollaring to me to get my attention.

To say I am dumbfounded is not quite the word. I swear if I could of melted into one of those cracks in the tile floor at that minute I would of not hesitated.

The Officer and Linda are now face to face with me and he says,"Do you know this young lady?" Never hesitated one second and I said,"I have never seen her before in my life!"

Can you believe that I was this mean. I still after thirty years later can't imagine me answering him with such a lie.

He then led Linda down the hallway with every Christmas shopper watching and wondering what such a pretty girl had done to be in the arms of a policeman.

I sat down on one of the benches and just stared at them walking away. I know I did not sit there five minutes when another Officer walked by and I ask him where they take people that are picked up in the mall.

He gave me directions to the Security Office and I got there as fast as I could. Now we not talking but a few minutes and when I got there they had already taken her to downtown Houston to book her in to Jail.

The Officer that I had lied to answered my questions and I more than once told him I was sorry for telling him I did not know her. He was rather nice about it and told me he probably would of done the same thing. lol

Turns out he explained even if I had confessed to knowing her he was still taking her to jail. Turns out after she left me she found the nearest little bar inside the mall and was having drinks. I did not even know these malls had places you could order alcohol. I was not a drinker. While drinking she had ordered a sandwich from the bartender and somehow the sandwich ended up being thrown back at him.

I ask the Officer how much would it cost me to get her out of jail to take her back home. He told me at least eight hundred dollars. I told him I would have to take everything I bought that day to come up with that kind of money and he told me not to do that.

Riding back home I was beside myself knowing I had to be the one to call her parents and tell them the story. Back then there were no cell phones so I had to get home to make the call. The phone was ringing when I walked into the house and it was Linda calling collect from the jail. She was begging me to come get her. I tried to explain to her I did not have that kind of money and I had to call her parents. Of course that was the last thing she wanted me to do but I had no choice.

That phone call probably cost me the love of her mother when I told the truth of what happened in Houston.

I noticed after that a change with Linda's mother and I hated that because I loved her dearly.

Linda's parents decided to let her spend the night in the Houston Jail which is something I don't think as a parent I could of done. I realize now though that probably was not the first time they had to deal with getting her out of messes from drinking.

Amazing but the first place Linda came after getting back home was to my house. She acted like nothing had ever happened. It did though I realized just how serious my child hood friend need intervention and I tried my best to get her help but I guess after a while she tired of listening to me and moved away.

I often wonder how she is doing. We have lost contact over the years. The last time I spoke with her was several years ago when my Mom had passed away and she phoned to say how sorry she was for my loss.

I honestly don't think she ever got any help and I hate that for her. She really was a beautiful young lady.

Now I must get busy around here. If you could see this house you would think I need help.

Love to all

Maggie