Valentine’s Day

In October of 1977, my friend Reg and I agreed that we would go to the Festival of Gospel Song at Massey Hall. The Songster brigades would be singing and that meant lots of girls our age! I was living on my own – sort of – I was out of my parent’s house but renting a room with friends. Not the best experience but it worked and frankly my long-range plans weren’t that long-range. I was happy to get from one payday to another.

That Saturday night in October I met Wendy for the first time – that I recall. She says we had met before but I wasn’t very aware of her. In my defense, I was looking after David Craig, my disabled friend.

I spotted Wendy in the crowd and looked for her after the program. She was standing with her friend Cindy outside the front doors of Massey Hall. Fortunately, Reg seemed to have some interest in Cindy. “The girls” invited us to come to Mississauga Temple the next day for their ‘musicale’ program which was Sunday afternoon. Right after the Sunday morning service Reg and I hit McD’s and headed to Mississauga anxious to see what come of the invitation!!

Following the program at MT we went out to…McD’s for a drink and something to eat. Wendy remembers that I ordered a Fillet-O-Fish sandwich and she thought that was weird. Who ordered a Filet-O-Fish?!! She had never known anyone to order let alone eat one. I ordered a hot chocolate and spilled it on my coat. I was making a great impression.

I was smitten though!

She had chestnut brown hair and it was bouncy and shiny and her nose was cute and eyes bright! I loved her laughter and she seemed to think I was handsome! Well, I knew it wasn’t my money – I was dirt poor!

Later in November after wishing to talk to her more, I called the human resources office at Bell Canada. I knew Wendy worked for Bell, but I didn’t know much more. I called and asked them to tell me where she worked and to give me her phone number.

They gave it to me.

Yup. Hard to believe.

So I called her at work and asked her to go out with me. I planned Mother’s Pizza and bowling. I figured I could afford that.

We had a great evening but she beat me at bowling. What?! Talk about impressions!

By February of 1978 I was really interested in knowing her better and spending more time together. With Valentine’s Day coming I wanted to make a big effort. I knew the building she worked in and what floor she worked on – 393 Avenue Road and the 6th floor. She was the EA for a group of engineers – the only woman in a group of about 15 men.

I arranged for 12 long-stem roses to be delivered to her office. When the delivery person arrived he was required to carry them through the building, up the elevator and across the very big floor to her desk so that everyone knew she was getting roses!!

(Way to go Fred!)

Later that day I took her out for dinner to Red Lobster. Now I did NOT have a credit card so I had only the cash in my pocket and this was long before ATM’s. I told Wendy to order whatever she wanted – she took me at my word – and then I did the math…food, tax, tip….and back to the menu, what could I order. I found rainbow trout and let me get to the end of the evening with 25 cents left over!

Whew!

By her birthday in July of 1978 I had proposed and we decided to get married in February of 1979! A year after that initial Valentine’s Day we were husband and wife!