The Woman in Red
Preface: Little did I realize on a cold January 14th night…. that my life would be forever wondrously changed~ And that January 14th would keep bringing me more gifts over the many years to come. January 14th would become my most memorable and celebrated day of EVERY year~
It had been over three years working the night shift at the railway. Midnight to 8am in Symington Yards Diesel Shop. It was 36 months earlier that I was told by the receptionist in the employment office at the CN Union Station that they were no longer taking applications for the job I wanted to apply for. They had well over 40 or more apps. But then a man came out of a back office, smiled and said.. “John Robertson?” He then told the front desk girl that all was ok and invited me into his office. I also recognized him! He was on the executive at Crescentwood Community Centre where our ‘pack of Robbies’ would invade and take over the pool, playground and fields….regularly back in the 60’s and we were allowed to play baseball and football without paying registration fees! A family of 10 boys and 6 girls! It was our home away from home and so many memories are still with us to this very day! Especially brother Peter and I…playing 6 man football! One block and you were gone! This kind man knew our family and had followed my high school football years at Saint Paul’s unbeknownst to me. We talked for a good half hour about family, sports, and very little about my job application. And I had worn my suit for the interview, even though the position was bulletined as a LABOURER!
During my interview I confided in him that I chose not to take any of the football scholarships having a baby on the way. I told him I was not afraid of hard work and working the night shift would allow me to take part time university studies. He was impressed that I just came off a 4 week shift filling in for guys on holidays loading and unloading boxcars at the Johnson Terminal yards. Temps would be well over 100+ degrees in those boxcars (where Winnipegs Forks is today). It was like working in a steam boiler room but no ventilation at all. Thanking him for seeing me, I left but did not even think I would be considered for the position. Two days later he called to say “Good news, John. If you still want the position, it’s yours. Can you start next week?”
Just out of high school three months earlier and having received exemptions from writing exams (honor roll) I was able to begin working almost a month earlier than planned. And I needed to! My whole world and my dreams were turned upside down in that month of May when I discovered that my girlfriend was pregnant. I told no one. And I know the exact hour when I became a man! I had heard Dad talking on the phone long distance the night before with Uncle John whom was covering the Rough Riders in Regina in his sports writing days. It would be a decade later in 1979 that Uncle John would race to the rescue and help save his beloved Riders and rally corporate and community support to meet pay rolls when he initiated RIDER PRIDE. Dad was speaking so proudly of me to Uncle John and mentioned that I would be the first Robertson to go to University and maybe to play pro football.
I knew I had to tell Dad! I had to!! I did not sleep well that night. At exactly 8am the next morning, June 10th (will never forget that hour or day!)..before I left..running to Saint Paul’s, I asked Dad if I could speak with him. When he came into my room I stood up and asked HIM to sit down on my bed. I asked him to hear what I had to say without stopping me and then I would listen to him. I told him that I heard him talking to Uncle John the night before. And I could not accept any of my scholarships. I had a baby on the way and was going to get married the next month. I also would begin work next week because I did not have any exams to write, receiving exemptions. I was looking at apartments too. I told him I was really sorry for letting him and others down, …but how could I say NO to my firstborn when he had said YES to all 16 kids? Dad froze and looked down. I felt like crying but I wanted to show him that I was now a man and taking responsibility for what had happened. I took those few steps towards Dad and sat beside him. He then put his arm around me and we did have tears together. He asked me to let him share with mom and not to tell anyone else. I agreed. I then left the house and ran ran ran..to school. And still had tears all the way! I WAS NOW A MAN… and one that would always show his emotions, as I would discover~
.. A week later, I became a lead hand for a landscaping company putting in 75-80 hours weekly on average from that mid June thru July. Up at 5am and at the shop to get equipment read to cut up strips at the sod farm beginning at 6am working til dusk with only sundays off, was my norm. I had a baby on the way and had to raise enough money for an apartment and furniture and a nursery for either a boy or girl! The low wages had me searching for a better job and now I had one at the railway….thanks to a caring man from Crescentwood. Just one of many that would be entering my life! Why was I so blessed? Why me?
My railway experience was great! Within my first year I was elected the UNION MAN for the night shift and they also allowed me to organize and offer sports and family days as well, such as slo pitch, soccer and even a tennis doubles tournament with families PLAYING and enjoying activities and BBQ. The railway was heavily weighted in the favour of seniority which yes…I thought was fair to those that have loyally stayed with the company. But with many of the junior employees being summer workers or newbies having to work on weekends with set days off such as my Tuesdays/Wednesdays, the young guys were not able to enjoy socializing on friday or saturday nites, having to work at midnite! The senior men had locked up all the weekends off! That was until I arranged the following ‘scheme’! I would allow the young guys to book off sick (unpaid) once a month on weekends and book them in for a overtime shift on afternoons or days @ time and half! The office and accounting office never did catch on and the young guys were able to have at least one night a month off on a weekend…to PARTY..and also see a small increase in their pay cheques due to Overtime shift~LOL
In my second year on nights, I welcomed a second son, another December boy! Having come to know what LOVE really is (later) I look back and know that I was not in love with my boys mother. I had met her when I was only 15…she was older. And some things are best left unsaid and not shared…YET~ Suffice to say that my sons were everything to me. And at age 20, I became a single Dad…granted sole custody, caring & raising my two sons ages 22 months and 10 months ..while working the night shift and then doing my best to get by seemingly against all the odds. At times I was completely overwhelmed …especially when the boys got sick and I had to miss work. I wrapped myself around my boys! I did NOT care about being with another woman… YET! I would work the night shift while my boys slept at a near by sister’s! Around 11pm on work nites, I would bundle them up while they slept..carry them over and slipped them into bed again…kiss goodnite, then off to work! Picked them up at 8:30am and stayed up during the day ..caring for them and taking advantage of naps when they did!
I sure came to appreciate what new moms went through when caring for their new borns and wee ones and to also relish those short 20 minute naps when I had the chance. I relied on COFFEE and many bands & songs to keep me awake.. and get me thru the day~ The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, the Doors, Beach Boys, Jay and the Americans, Isaac Hayes, Bee Gees, Grassroots, Marvin Gaye, America….and MO TOWN arriving in full assault! My boys would also dance and laugh so hard when seeing me dancing wildly!! MEMORIES! I do not think I would have survived without the music! I really mean that! I did everything with my boys! The parks, playgrounds, wading pools, PLAYING PLAYING PLAYING! Washed their cotton diapers out in tub…LOTS of BLEACH!!! I mean LOTS!! No washer or dryer! Hung them everywhere to dry! Stair banisters…over chairs and doors on strung out strings in basement! Must have had a few hundred cotton diapers but I never folded them! Just piled the diapers on my bed against the wall and would grab a dry one when needed.. by its corner … and snap it in the air to remove most wrinkles…pin in my teeth…then like ‘roping a calf’…voila! Diaper done!
My boys were often mistaken as girls because I let their hair grow to shoulder length until they were 2 & 3! The more and more I spent time with my boys, the more empowered I became. I CAN DO THIS! ONE DAY AT A TIME~So what if I get poop on my hands! Or if they throw up on me! And they did….lol~ It all washes off! I got better and better at cooking (not burning as much LOL)…and thank GOD my boys loved mashed potatoes, kraft dinner, fish sticks, baloney, peanut butter and jam, and lots cheese and eggs and pancakes! They were not crazy about porridge and puffed wheat but would pretend to like it when I PRETENDED too! Nightly baths for them while blaring the music and watching them splash each other and me…then into my big bed with me in the middle ..lots of cuddling, tickling, laughing and back scratching! We were a happy trio! I could catch maybe two to three hours sleep when putting them down before scooting them over to my sisters before leaving for my night shift! And OMG did I ever look forward to my Tuesday and Wednesday nites off so I and my boys could sleep together the whole night and sleep in!!!!! No small pleasure when you work midnites!
As the months passed I was finally allowed to have my boys in a daycare. I did NOT have FATHERS ALLOWANCE (no such thing). But I was able to seek and be granted approval at St Lukes Daycare in Fort Rouge to have them in daytime daycare. It cost me only a $1.25 a day! I COULD NOW SLEEP MORE! Did get quite a few ‘dirty looks’ from some Moms at the daycare, which did hurt, as if it was wrong for me to have custody rather than the mom. But some Moms were very understanding and supportive. And I was now beginning to wonder how long I would be without a woman in my life. And yes…several very caring women were about to say ‘Hi!’
I was not into the bar scene but did love to dance and I did NOT want to go drinking with my brothers or any set friends! I was a loner…wanting to do things by myself! I chose the Norlander Bar on Pembina Highway and began to stop by for brief stints to mingle with the Bison football players. They would purposely put 2 or 3 tables together right inside the entrance into the bar so they could see every girl in the line up and as they walked in! I would sit with them for a drink then get up and wander thru the 400+ bar while music played. I would lean up against the wall and scan to see if any girls were looking my way. If I saw one I liked …I would smile…and if they smiled back, I would point my finger at them…then me…then the dance floor! It worked just fine…MOST times! But not when their boy friends were with them! LOL! I was able to meet and go out with several girls over those next few months but I was so careful with my heart…and theirs…and especially my sons! Right close by the Norlander was an establishment called the Fire Place that was theee hot place (no pun intended) on the south side of the city. Touring bands and celebs would stop by after their gigs and jam. The music and atmosphere was electric! The best dancers in the city would migrate there from all other places. And it was open on Sundays too as long as they met the food to liquor ratio. And such great great music! Guess Who would drop by… Sugar and Spice (The three Murphy sisters, alumni from Convent of the Sacred Heart). And one of the bands that drew line ups galore.. Junior Barnes and the Cadillacs. Loved them! Lead Sax player would lead them onto stage with lit sparklers rising from his Sax~
It was at the Fireplace that two unexpected events took place on the same night. One good…one really really bad! And before my head was to hit the pillow on that night I would be thanking GOD for my life and also my mom, oldest brother Jim, and my coaches! I was with a fellow Crusader alum, Willie…one of the toughest football linemen in the city. Willie was having some personal issues and wanted to share them with me. He had had a few breakdowns in his high school years with stays in treatment centres for mental health. Willie was also a brainiac! So smart! The beautiful waitress smiled at me when serving our table, asking what we wanted to drink. I smiled back. Ordered my usual rye and coke…then a great dancing song came on and I jumped up ..grabbed a girl’s hand at a nearby table without even asking her to dance! She danced!!! And the waitress was watching , laughing, and smiling. After several dances ..I thanked the lovely girl and back to my table to have my drink and chat with Willie. It was then that the waitress came over and asked if that was how I got girls to dance with me. Just grabbing their hands without asking! We laughed! Willie talked…I listened…for a good hour or more and I noticed he was drinking too much. I was driving and in good shape. It was time to leave. Clearing the bill with the waitress, she said her name was Ronnie and leaned to give me a hug goodbye and said good night. It would not be til the next day that I would find her name and number on a slip of paper in my coat pocket. Must have slipped it in during the hug. Now exiting the Fire Place…I was guiding Willie towards my car.
I let him slide into the back seat of my 69′ two door Grand Prix with him being a little woozy and possibly to stretch out! Then it happened! I heard a scream and and saw four guys standing over a 5th guy in the parking lot. One of the four had a knife to the head of the guy on his knees. Other three were standing in front of him. I said.. “ Willie! Lets go. Have to help him!” Hurrying to the scene, I recognized the fella kneeling and bleeding from his forehead! It was one of the Fenton boys that we played pick up football with at Crescentwood a few years back. The smallest of the four, was still holding the knife to him.. with one hand on the knife and his other hand pulling back Fenton’s hair while standing behind him.
I hollered something to the effect.. “Let him go! And pretty brave 4 on 1.. ..how about 4 on us 2?” The biggest guy said… “Which two?” I turned …no Willie! He was no coward and in fact, would have loved a good fight but had likely passed out in my car! No turning back now! GOD HELP ME! My heart was really racing but I could not let them keep hurting Fenton. I sized up all 4… and the guy that was talking the most was the smallest, the likely leader holding the knife to Fenton’s head. They told me to get loss…and did not say so nicely!! I said I would only go if Fenton could come with me too. They said no!
This is when oldest brother Jim came to mind! He was one of the dirtiest street fighters ever~ I knew these guys were not wearing jocks! And I had my pointed dancing dress shoes on! I took a stance with my arms raised and my torso angled & slightly forward at my side.. like I used to do in football drills. As if to signal ….”Okay! Let’s go!” And then the biggest guy leaned back on his car with his arms folded and signaled the two others to take me!
Coach Laping and Dawson used to send players from three lines..(each side of me and one line directly in front)…coming one at a time to try and knock me down! Coaches were behind me so I could not see which line the players would be coming from. If they knocked me down….I had to get back up with others still coming at me! It was called the ‘meat grinder’! Coach Dawson had showed me how to use their oncoming speed to avoid getting knocked down or to get them to the ground. And I always remember Nick Laping saying “Get em BIG JOHN! You’re the captain. Show them!”
Thank GOD I was in the very best of physical condition this night and maybe these 4 guys in this parking lot had their good share to drink…or at least I hoped so!.
Within no more than a minute maybe two…those two guys were both on the ground screaming in pain…rocking back and forth….covering themselves below the belt! I took my now torn sweater off and waved for the biggest guy to come fight! HE DID! The smallest guy…still holding knife to Fenton was no longer chirping….just watching! And it was a struggle. This third big fella was mobile and damn stronger than me~ He got me in a headlock from behind and I thought I was going to pass out but I was able to surge a few steps, stop, ….spin then ram him against a car.. head first then pinned him face down on the ground. He was no longer moving. It was then that the mouthy smallest ring leader jumped me from behind with his knife. I remember Fenton screaming to watch out. GOD was surely protecting me. I did not get slashed …and was able to wrestle the knife away and pin him down on the hood of the car just as police cars pulled in with sirens blaring. Two cops grabbed me…put my hands behind my back…and walked me over to a cruiser car. I did not mind! I My heart was still racing. I was still alive! Just then, one of the bouncers that I knew…came outside and told the cops that it was not me, but them…and all I did was try to help Fenton. The bouncer said that he saw the whole thing from inside club! It was then that I asked him.. “F _ _ _ Mike! ..Why didn’t you help?” All he said was… “I called the cops!” I was still on an adrenalin rush and once the cops were satisfied and also hearing my friend Fenton confirm that I came to his aid, they asked if I was okay to drive and that I could leave. They took Fenton to the nearby Victoria Hospital. Willie WAS passed out in the car! Delivered him to his Fort Garry home not too far from the Fire Place…then headed home!
Brother Frank, was babysitting and sleeping. I sneaked into the boys room and knelt down tween their beds. I kept thinking just how stupid I was! How lucky I was not killed. What was I thinking? The boys could have lost me! And I them! But my head was also telling me that I did the right thing. What if it was me being attacked by 4 guys? I am now safe at home with my boys…that’s all that mattered now! I went and had a shower and was still shaken by all that happened. I thought about my Mom whom made us tough little buggers by making us wear our sisters leotards in winter…which led to many many fights at school! I wore the green leotards and when I complained to Mom that they were girls clothing she said Robin Hood wore green leotards LOL!!!.. And thought again of brother Jim for being a dirty fighter and listening to his fighting stories and tips! And especially thanking GOD for protecting me that night! Needed a hot shower before going to bed!
After just standing under that hot shower for quite some time …thinking long and hard …looking at all of the scratch marks and bruises, and thinking of those two little precious boys in the next room, I knew how close I came to losing EVERYTHING that I loved! Stepping out of the shower, I toweled the steamed up mirror and then rubbed my eyes and cleared mirror again! It was then that I saw bead marks around my neck! Dark redish purple! Oh My GOD! My gold chain and cross were gone!!! Must have happened when the biggest guy had me in a head lock from behind and I tore my shirt! I had saved up my money to get it straight from Italy! An 18” chain and cross! My very first one. I got dressed and drove back to the Fire Place lot and looked for it! But did not find! It was never found! Yes I had tears~
I did not call Ronnie, the waitress. But I kept her number. A few weeks later, I was back at the Fire Place on my night off with my boys fast asleep at my Mom and Dads for the night. Ronnie was working. She was a little cool with me when serving my table. But I still smiled. And then as the nite progressed and she kept watching me dancing with others… she started to warm up once again to me. When she served me another drink she asked why I did not call her. I said I did NOT have her number! I did lie ..pretending that I was unaware that she wrote her number down and gave it to me. She smiled! She asked if I would be interested in going to a party in River Heights after she got off. I said sure! She had heard about what happened in the parking lot and was worried about me.
And that is when I started going out with MISS CFRW! Ronnie was from Thunder Bay where her mother was looking after her two young boys. Nice! We had more in common (sons). Ronnie also modelled and was a former Miss CFRW (radio station). Ronnie also worked at the Velvet Glove Lounge…posh upbeat venue in the Winnipeg Inn at Portage and Main. It was at that very first party with Ronnie in River Heights when I got a taste of the after hours scene in the city. To my surprise I found myself in a packed cavernous basement with Mitch Ryder and the DETROIT WHEELS jamming…following their appearance at the downtown auditorium. And another first was coming my way! It was a smokey and hot basement with a pungent smell and before I knew it…Ronnie had put something to my lips and said ‘inhale’! And I did! That was the first and last time I ever inhaled! But I really did enjoy that party! That nite! And after picking up my boys from my mom that next morning, when I got them home and changing them..I relived a memory from years past! My mother had put leotards on my boys! Same colors as she had forced on Peter and I! LOL.. his being red and mine…yup ‘Robin Hood’ green! That was the last time Mom babysat for me! MY CHOICE! LOL~
I continued to go out with Ronnie for several months and with her seeing my boys I often asked when I could meet her two sons. I sensed something was wrong but never pushed it but I just never felt that our relationship was going to work. I decided to break it off….remaining friends. And it was such a surprise later when I discovered that the girl whom was about to enter into my life on January 14th…was a former baby sitter for Ronnie! UNBELIEVABLE!
I did not plan on stopping by the bar that cold January 14th night for my usual 1 drink.. 1 dance, before doing the midnite shift at the railway. After bundling my two little boys into their snow suits at 11pm trying to not awake them, I carried them over to my sister’s and put them back to bed. I was driving to work when a great motown song came on and I wanted to dance! The song was by Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose .. fittingly called “ITS TOO LATE TO TURN BACK NOW…” It was one of the hottest songs at that time! I REALLY WANTED TO DANCE! And little did I know what awaited me and that I would be actually hearing and dancing to this song before the night was over! And Off to the Norlander Bar but only for that one drink, one dance, and quick hi & byes to my Bison Football Buddies !
And decades later…this song would be used in an Oscar winning movie 2018 BLACKKKLANSMAN… And yes we did dance like that back in the day!
Arriving at the bar and sailing right thru the long line up with a smile to and from my doorman friend, the U of M football buddies welcomed me. I immediately said “I gotta dance! Whom is thee best looking girl here tonite”? They all pointed to a girl in the middle of the place wearing a red sweater! But they said she wouldn’t dance with anyone. I said she will with me within 5 minutes! I never ever would walk to a table and ask for a dance, risking NO and walking away embarrassed. Looking at my watch I thought to myself …“Dear Lord please let her go to the washroom SOON.” I looked up and over to her table and she arose. She turned and the whole room went slow motion for me. I only saw her…amongst the 400+. And she WAS heading to the washroom! OMG! She was wearing high wasted jeans, a red form fitting sweater with her auburn hair at shoulder length swaying as she glided across the floor. SHE WAS STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL! AN ANGEL ON EARTH~
I waited outside the washroom door ready to pull a NOAH (Notebook movie)! The door opened and I saw her eyes and shot my arm across to block her from leaving. She nervously jabbed me in the stomach and said “You are that football star with boys. My girlfriends told me about you.” I asked if she could look over my shoulder to see if the bisons football table was looking our way! She said that they were! I told her the bisons said you would never dance with me! Told her I must leave for work but could she please please give me just 1 dance…and if she wished, she could walk off the dance floor at any time. PLEASE”! She paused then smiled and said “OK” just one dance! I was about to enter HEAVEN! I took her hand and hastily fought thru the crowd onto the dance floor. Then THAT song came on! It was Van Morrison’s BROWN EYED GIRL ! Seemingly just for HER! Her EYES were stunning! Like magnets pulling me in! Four or five dances later, and yes…one was that same song… Too late to rurn back now that I heard on the radio and which made me turn the car around and head to this place…and now soooo late for work, and dancing to a slow song with her in my arms, and her head on my chest, I said.. “Colleen, I gotta get to work. Could you please give me your phone #?” She leaned…and with her warm lips touching my ear, she softly said “452-2373”! I WAS NOW IN HEAVEN~ Within two months, all her clothes were in OUR closet!
It was not til 10 months later….her next birthday, November 1st (All Saints Day) that I would discover she had lied about her age! She shared the exact same birth day as her sister Arlene on Nov 1st, ALL SAINTS DAY, and they were NOT twins and Arlene was turning 20! NOT COLLEEN as I thought! She was turning 18! She was only 17 years and two months when we first danced….with a fake I.D.~ But as that special song …. it was too late to turn back now!!! I was madly in love with MY ANGEL! And I would NOT let her go! And what else was amazing is that the two babysitters I was using when with Colleen, knew she was underaged! How? Because they were Kelvin High grads (both age 19) and knew Colleen was in earlier grades! But neither thought of sharing that with me.
And what began with my wish for just that one 3 minute dance…led to a 33 year LOVE AFFAIR~ And when I am often asked how I know there really IS A HEAVEN! My response is.. “ I know there IS a HEAVEN because I slept with an ANGEL~” THEN I ALWAYS SMILE~
And that January 14th night set me on a journey like no other, not scripted by my hand…but by GOD~ And if you never have believed in MIRACLES…GET READY! Stay tuned…To be continued…..