Dumb girl… (continued)
That infamous year in my senior physics class had a marvelous twist and a delightful ending. Mrs. Manning, our teacher, took us all, via chartered bus, to Disneyworld in Orlando in April 1972, the year it opened. There I was with the two other “dumb” girls and the 22 “smart” boys, or so they thought. But the best is yet to come!
We arrived in Orlando, where we would stay in a motel outside of the park. It was Spring training for the Major League Baseball teams. And guess what? Tony Oliva of the Minnesota Twins and his father had a room next door to the dumb girls!
How we actually met them, I do not recall. Tony was from Cuba and had dark skin; therefore, he explained to us that he was not allowed to stay with the white members of the team. In 1972, the South was still putting up “fences’ based on your color. I’m so glad things have changed!
Tony’s father did not speak English. He was drawn to Linda and kept saying, “Bonita, Bonita.” Pretty, beautiful!
Even with the language barrier, we girls made Tony and his father laugh, and who doesn’t like laughter? In the evenings, they would sit on the grassy area of the motel and we would talk to them. I had not been a baseball fan up until then, but the fascination of a real-life professional baseball player was intriguing.
Our three-day stay at Disneyworld came to an end. The bus arrived for our departure, and Tony and his father were there to send us off. Somehow, Tony had asked me for my phone number and address, which I willingly provided. He placed Minnesota Twins caps on our heads, gave us a giant rainbow-spiraled lollypop (we are the lollypop kids), hugged us, and sent us on our way.
Each of us girls climbed onto the bus proud as peacocks. Donning our Minnesota Twins caps, the boys were green with envy.
“How’d you get that?”
“What?”
“No fair!”
And on and on, the comments and darts came. I pleasantly smiled and nodded like a politician.
That summer, I became fascinated with baseball, particularly the Minnesota Twins and Tony Oliva. I cut out every newspaper article I could find. Tony wrote, I replied. In September, I left for nursing school in Atlanta. In October, Tony came to Atlanta for an event. We had a nice dinner together, and he brought me a baseball signed by the team, which I still have today.
1972 was a banner year for me. I had long forgotten the ribbing and teasing the boys had given me at the beginning of the school year. After all, I got the cap and ball and had dinner with Tony Oliva! Those were my memories and treasures. And I bet if I saw Mark, Keith, and Stuart today, they would still remember the “dumb” girl’s home runs.
Put those fences up! Not for reasons of prejudice but to provide a lovely sanctuary for your family, crops, and animals. I need to get my fence up. My little Phoebe Louise, now that she’s two, is darting here and there on any whim. Thank goodness she starts obedience school tomorrow. After that class, we’re heading to the agility classes.
Call Terry and get your fence order in today! 978-486-3116 (Tap to Call)
Or select your sanctuary here: https://louispage.com
My warmest regards,
Debbie Page
CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (True! That’s 131 years owned and run by our family)
