One night during my performing days I was helping put together a local pageant in Columbus, Ohio. There was a distinct lack of contestants so I was asked to enter just to assure there were at least four people competing. I did so with the understanding that I would not win or place as I didn't think it was fair for one of the organizers to actually participate. That agreement was made and I went through the motions. Well someone forgot to tell the judges and after the winner was crowned they stormed up to the dressing room to cry foul. Evidently I had been tops on all of their score sheets, but once the situation was explained everything simmered down and they understood what was going on and why. Later that night back at the hotel, I ended up talking with one of the judges. We stayed up all night getting to know each other and we became fast friends. Sue Henderson became one of my closest and dearest friends, and for many years we were practically inseparable. Her family adopted me as one of their own and I even lived with them in this beautiful old historic house that once was a stagecoach stop a century ago. Needless to say, I became convinced the place was haunted by the ghosts of travelers past, and there were always strange things going on that left me convinced of supernatural activity. Most things weren't scary at all, just weird and unexplained, but I remember one room where the kids believed wholeheartedly that there was some kind of portal. I admit that creeped me out quite a bit, but nothing truly dangerous ever happened and I'm sure it was just a good story that left some of us hesitant to spend much time in that room over the garage. Sue and I traveled around quite a bit and I began to work with her, volunteering for the local AIDS task force. This was back in the day when there was such a negative stigma attached to the disease and, even in the hospitals, AIDS patients were not well cared for and avoided by the staff. No one really understood much about the disease and there was a lot of misinformation. Even being the heterosexual married woman with kids, her dedication to fight and care for people dealing with that horrible plague was unyielding. She also became quite a supporter of my performances and routinely went along for the ride and helped me immensely with costume changes and such. She was my best friend and biggest cheerleader!
I remember one night after a show at this little bar in Akron, one of my fellow performers wanted to stay behind and party the night away. He had, however, forgotten to bring clothes to change into since we had gotten ready at Sue's house and all went together. I offered the t-shirt I had on as we were similar in size and I thought little of it since Sue and I were just going back home. I had not gotten out of makeup so I was still dolled up as a giant glamazon, just without a shirt. As Sue drove through the streets of Akron with me in the passenger seat, a carload of Akron U fraternity boys pulled up along side us at a red light. They took one look at me and were convinced I was a topless woman. One of them practically stood out of the back seat window and they were all hooting and hollering. I had to laugh but I sat up straight, thrusting my smoothly shaved man boobs out with quite a sense of pride. The cat calls escalated until Sue realized what was going on and told me abruptly to "put those things away!" I crossed my arms as we turned the corner leaving the frat boys in the dust. To this day I think they remain convinced, and probably still tell the story of the night they found a naked woman being chauffeured through Akron. Once we headed out of town on our way back home I began to get hungry. I was told in no uncertain terms that she wasn't under any circumstances taking me through any drive-thru given what had just happened. It's probably good that we never crossed paths with Johnny Law that night, I'm sure I would have been arrested for indecent exposure! The whole experience turned out to be a huge bonding opportunity for Sue and I, and to this day I know I'll never live that night down! We went on to have even more good times as the years ticked by. Those days will always hold a very special place in my heart, and so will Sue! I miss so much being geographically close and being able to spend time together like we used to, but I'm exceptionally grateful that we've been able to maintain contact via Facebook and the occasional phone call.
One special summer she invited me to join her on a trip to North Carolina to stay with her sister Sandy and attend a family reunion with her. I wasn't sure how well received an over sized man with long bleached platinum blonde hair would be, but she assured me I wouldn't have any issues. As we drove down the freeway she reminisced about spending time with her grammy and how she savored the wonderful cooking that went on atop an old wood stove in a cast iron skillet that had been used for decades. I could almost taste the cornbread and smell the bacon she described in such detail. Along the way we passed an asphalt plant and I remarked about it. She wasn't all that familiar so I explained what my father had taught me over the years about how roads get paved and that, since the asphalt had such a limited time before it hardened, crews had to erect plants that produced the hot mix material from where the large dump trucks would shuttle the hot asphalt to the paving machine slowly working it's way along, laying down a fresh layer of jet black pavement. Rollers would closely follow to smooth out the roadway as it continued to steam. As we ventured forth growing ever closer to the Carolina state line we noticed several of these hot mix plants along the way. A fun filled week ensued near Burlington and I absolutely adored her family. I think at first they weren't quite sure what to make of me, but they warmed up quickly. Early on during our trip home we got into some kind of fight, I don't even remember about what, but we ended up not speaking for what seemed like hours. As we passed one of the plants we had discussed on our journey down, Sue broke the silence by simply saying "hot mix!" A brief moment went by and we suddenly started laughing. From that moment forward, that became the phrase that always meant just how much we loved each other. Nothing else needed to be said, we just knew what it meant and laughed every time hot mix was mentioned. Even today it remains a symbol of the love and connection between us. It's amazing how something so obscure could become so meaningful between two people.
Along with her husband Jim, she now runs a Celtic shop that specializes in wares and delicacies from the Scotland, England and Ireland. They labor tirelessly to bake delicious treats like meat pies and haggis, and the shelves of the store are stocked with all types of products from abroad. Unfortunately I haven't been back to Ohio to visit her yet and see the store that has become quite a successful venture. They also travel extensively to various highland games events around the Midwest, bringing their tastes of the old country to the masses. I'd love to spend some time with their family and go along on some of their adventures. That would be so incredibly fun! And, of course, there are men in kilts everywhere which is a huge bonus! There's just something so sexy about men in kilts that stirs up the libido and gets the juices flowing! Woof! Even though we are separated by distance, I hold on to those memories that are so dear to me, as Sue herself will always reside in a very special place in my heart! It never ceases to amaze me how God brings such wonderful people into my life just when I need them most. Sue is definitely one of His angels and has had such an impact on who I am as a person. Her example of unconditional love, friendship, tolerance and service to others has always made me want to be a better person. I hope she truly understands how special she is to me and so many others, and what a blessing she has been to me over the years. I miss her more than I can express here and more than she knows, but our friendship goes on in a different form. How I miss you, my Rena Sue! ♥ ♥ ♥
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