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Stories about Barbara
John:
Barbara and I liked ballroom dancing, and with our friends in Framingham, we would dance many a Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday morning. In those days, ballroom dancing was still popular, and we were good at it.
One of the greatest attractions in Boston is The Boston Pops New Years Eve concert, which includes a segment called "Dancing Through The Years". Barbara and I would attend the New Year's Eve concerts and dance on a crowded floor, or more honestly, be shuffled around with all the other dancers, until it was time to sit down. One year we invited Jennie, Peter and their partners to join us in a New Year Boston Pops concert, and vowed that we (Barbara and I ) would be the first up on the floor to do a few rounds of honest dancing before the "masses" arrived.
Harry Ellis Dixon was the conductor and, as soon as "Dancing Through The Years" was introduced, Barbara and I went onto the floor and started with our ballroom routine, in keeping with the music. Nobody else got up to dance and even the kids stayed on the side lines. Barbara whispered in my ear "Let's sit down, no one else is dancing!" I replied "Not on your life, we will never again dance to a full concert orchestra, so let's make the most of it" And so we did. Many people congratulated us on a fine show and our children were able to close their mouths in amazement and, I hope, admiration. My only regret is, that that show was not tele-cast, otherwise I am sure, dancing with my star would have prompted a much earlier 'Dancing With the Stars".
Peter:
I remember one summer I had mono (sadly NOT from kissing a girl) and was milking it for all it was worth. I mean, come one. What teenager wouldn't? I could sleep as long as I wanted!Well, I believe mum had had enough of that and of my failure to mow the lawn. After several attempts by her to wake me up, she hit upon brilliance. She rolled the lawn mover under my bedroom window, started it, and then walked away, leaving it running, sputtering LOUDLY!I was up in a flash, I must admit. That memory always gives me a good laugh.
Additional memories I have were of us going to see Monty Python's 'Life of Brian' when I was 10 or so. What a cool mother!
A spring afternoon where she decided that we would go and see 'The Color Purple' at a matinee and we ended up having the cinema (General Cinemas at Shoppers' World) all to ourselves, our own private screening of a film that changed my life;
Sitting on the back porch on an early spring day, the crocus just poking up out through the snow, cup of tea in hand and enjoying the afternoon warmth of the sun.
Oh so many memories; swimming to the marker, the annual visit to Santa in Boston and then the Christmas Pops, Garden in the Woods, Sandwiches in the Screen Porch, popsicles, walks down the lane, pizza, Penny Turton's...
Anyroad, I hope these shared memories will be a catalyst for you to share yours with us.
Peter
Welcome to the Stories page. We would like to invite you to submit memories and/or photographs you have of Barbara.
It need not be anything fancy, just a fond memory you may have. Thank you for dropping by and we look forward to hearing from you.
From:
Irene C:
We first met as teenagers at a church youth club in the suburbs of London. That was 1949 and we remained good friends thereafter. She was a bridesmaid at my wedding and looked lovely dressed in green taffeta! I was so sorry and missed her good company when she moved to America but we kept in touch throughout the years with letters and phone calls and the occasional visit which was delightful. She was a kind natured person with a ready smile and a great sense of humour and I will also think fondly of her.
Jill B:
Soon after giving birth to our second son in December 1997, I attended the student concert at the Perkins School for the Blind. My husband John, and friend Jennie were working hard to support the students in their holiday performances. I sat in the back, very nervous that I had made the decision to bring a very young infant and a toddler into public, and had no idea what to expect, but I wanted to support the efforts made by the folks I cared so much about. As I sat simmering in my new motherhood angst, an older woman sitting in front of me overheard me speaking to my boys softly - and she turned. She had the brightest smile and sweetest eyes - eyes I immediately recognized as just like my sweet friend Jennie's. This woman turned to me and asked me how old the baby was. When I told her , "Only 10 days", I expected to hear the wrath of all grandmothers come down upon my head. Instead, she smiled wider and said, "What a lovely outing for your little one". How lucky I was to then discover she was indeed my best friend's mother, and that I would get to occasionally interact with her through the years as my boys grew older- often at these annual holiday performances. Every year we attended, we would sit close to each other, and I was reminded how she put me right at ease that very first year.
Joan L:
I remember Barbara during a different stage in her life, than most of her family and friends. I first met her in 2007 when I stopped at her house to take her to the Good Day Respite Program, which met from 10 am to 3 pm on Mondays and Thursdays. John, who played tennis at 9:30 on those mornings would then bring my husband and Barbara home at 3:30 pm. Every single Monday and Thursday when I picked Barbara up, she always greeted me with her lovely smile, and a greeting (although unfortunately, the words were in a language all her own). We always ended up laughing, as I would try to put her arms in her jacket, coat or sweater, while she was sitting down. Then, most important, she had to have her large, brown pocket book (purse) tucked under her arm. We always both giggled in the car over something silly I'd say, as she chatted a reply, and Doris Day, on CD, sang in the background. This went on for a year or so, until the last time she went with me. That morning she was having a great deal of trouble walking. She couldn't seem to remember to "put one foot in front of the other", as the old song goes. Soon after, John had to take Barbara to the Pine Rock Manor nursing home. He faithfully visited her every other day, always at a time that included dinner or supper, so that he could feed her, instead of the nurses aids. Barbara was losing control of her muscles, and so, also, had to go around in a wheelchair. One year later, my husband, due to anxiety attacks, another Alzheimer's trait, had to join Barbara as a resident at Pine Rock. Thus, I joined John traveling back and forth every other day, which made this unfortunate new chapter in our lives a bit easier. We were the cheer leaders for Barbara, Don, and all the residents, whom we got to know so well. I never ever saw, or heard of Barbara crying out, or complaining or acting in pain. Despite everything, she always remained calm, and sometimes gave a lovely smile or laugh. Even with Alzheimer's, her beautiful self shone through. Barbara died peacefully one afternoon in her sleep, causing no trouble to anyone, but leaving everyone who knew her, a deep loss. I hope my note helps family and friends in England, and all Barbara's friends in Framingham to know that the lovely, vivacious Barbara, that they knew and loved, never lost her sweet disposition and beauty, even when adversity took away her normal life.
Marlene G.:
I will always remember Barbara with those beautiful sparkling blue eyes and ever so lovely.
Tricia:
My favourite Barbara story is that one fall, after I'd been visiting, she sent me a tin of her amazing shortbread with a lovely note inside.
Inside the tin was a packet of red and orange leaves from the fall trees. Our Colorado fall golden leaves are a pale comparison to the glorious colours you enjoy in the east coast.
That remains one of my most treasured memories of an amazing time in my life.