Anecdote for Anna

Anna is always asking for stories of when we - Dad and I- and you - my children - were small...The other day I thought of something I had not recalled for years. When we arrived back in Canada from Scotland, we went to Ottawa for a time - stayed with Grammie and Bapa before settling in Ancaster. Maryanne did not seem well and had an odd rash, so I took her to the family clinic that Mom and Dad always used. They said she had - of all things - shingles! They had never seen this in a child her age and were concerned there had to be other physical problems compromising her immune system. Therefore, they had to take a blood sample to analyze blood chemistry. When she heard this, Maryanne, my Maryanne, who was always the child to act responsibly and sensibly no matter what shot out the door. It was a Saturday, the building was almost empty, and she simply disappeared. I went hunting for her, calling her name, and would see just a hint of her as she rounded the corners ahead of me. We went down corridors, up and down stairs, until I finally headed her off in the bathroom. She absolutely refused to let the lab take any blood...until I had talked with her for many minutes. I still wonder what sparked such a reaction in my otherwise resolute and obliging daughter...Guess it was the insecurity of those few months!