"its ok, they know me"

May 29, 2007 - Tuesday

Aunt Marcine would call relentlessly. She was constantly worried that War was inevitable in these here United States, that someone had died or that Dana was in grave danger during her daily drive home in the peaceful valley we called home.

The year was 2002 and I had never met Dana's Aunt Marcine in a face to face visit. I did however have the frequent if not what seemed like hourly pleasure of speaking with her on the telephone.

The phone rings:

Robert: Hello

Marcine: Where's Dana?

Robert: Shopping with Vickie

Marcine: who died?

Robert: What?

Marcine: WHO died?

Robert: What are YOU talking about?

Marcine: Well you said they were at a funeral…

Robert: uh, no I didn't. I said that they were shopping.

Marcine: ok …click…


Again the phone rings:

Robert: Hello

Marcine: Where's Dana?

Robert: at work.

Marcine: Oh Lord, I hate that she is out on "that" road

Robert: ok

Marcine: click…

Another phone call:

Robert: Hello?

Marcine: Where's Dana

Marcine: oh Robby, there's gonna be a war in Birmingham!

Robert: What?! Why would you say that?

Marcine: The president is gonna be in Birmingham today, we are about to go to war!

Robert: ok

Marcine: Click…


Marcine never met a stranger. She would walk into the employee lounge at an establishment where she collected no paycheck and would pour herself not one, but two or three cups of coffee. When someone would comment on her behavior, she'd just reply, "oh, they know me".

In her mind, everyone in Anniston knew her. From what I had been told, her father had been an important man in Anniston years ago and she took all the teenagers to town in her new car for milkshakes….how could everyone not know her?

Marcine passed away in 2003 and to this day, when I walk in some place or do something in public that Dana thinks borders on intrusive, boarish and rude, I just smile and say, "its ok, they know me".