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Her name was Simone Pridham -Whipple and 179 Golfdale Ave. in Toronto, Ont. Canada was the last place I ever saw her. Those who loved her called her Sindy, and I was one of those. It was the 60s and I was a lifeguard at St. Lawrence Park in Prescott, Ontario, just across the river from Ogdensburg, New York. When it wasn't busy the guys used to swim out to the raft and throw all of the girls into the water. One young girl in particular was very persistent at getting back up on the raft; only to be thrown back in time and time again. But summers end and one tends to get on with high school and other forms of endeavors that pass for life found in Canada's border towns; the shame of the north. The following year, back at the park, I was drawn over to apply first aid to a very attractive young lady who had fallen and cut her wrist. A fire breathing mother was still yelling about how she had told her not to run, but looking into those tear filled, frightened eyes took both my breath and the sounds away. A smile, when it came, hit me like a tonne of bricks. I'd seen that smile before only this time it was apparent that Mother Nature had visited our town over the winter. This young British blue eyed blonde dream could mesmerize an entire regiment. I wouldn't be throwing this little girl back in the river this time. This one was a "Keeper." As it turned out our first date was her first date and of course I would have to get permission from her father. There I was face to face with the man who was going to kill me because it had never dawned on me to ask what Sindy's last name was. Before me in her living room stood Coronal John Carver, the Commanding Officer of my squadron of The 4Th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. Believe me, Sindy was home by 22:00 hrs. (10:00 p.m. for the rest of the world.) I'd asked her to marry me as time went on and I was now at the Royal Canadian Armoured Corp School at CFB Borden, a no weekend pass situation until successful completion of six months basic training. Passes were available through the three months communications training which followed. Letters arrived less and less frequently until on a weekend pass I returned to her home only to be told Sindy had left to live with her (other) father in Toronto. I was out of the loop in more ways than one. I never did find out. I traced her down and was invited to sleep on the chesterfield under an imposing oil painting of a later to be identified British Destroyer. My gracious host, I would learn 15 years later was a retired Rear Admiral in the British Navy. I can only guess how he would feel about a lowly Trooper sleeping in his front room, and Army at that. The week end went down hill from there. There was homework to be done Saturday afternoon so I walked down Yonge Street from just south of the 401 highway to the CNR train station. You'd have to know Toronto, but you get the idea. Sunday meant returning to camp but it was apparent that something else was over too. That summer Sindy would find employment at a summer resort much like the "Kellerman's" of "Dirty Dancing" fame. I would never get to hold her again. Sindy would be the one love I would compare all other women to, and everyone else turn out to be a compromise. Getting on with her life she ran off and married the keyboard player in a Rock 'n Roll band. "Signs, Signs, Everywhere Is Signs" although not gramaricly correct haunts me to this day. From Ottawa to the bright lights of LA and back, she now resides in Kanata, Ont. with the man she stayed true to along with her son. My fondest memory of her was the day we were driving south on highway 16 south of Ottawa in Luke Swartz's yellow VW Beetle when Sindy sang along to the words of "Soldier Boy" as it was played on the radio. ...and the haunting melody of "Cindy, Oh Cindy", ( Vince Martin & The Tarriers, Eddy Fisher & later The Beach Boys) is another treasure from another time. The only two pictures I had of Sindy were in my collection stolen with my surveillance equipment. See OM4. Please God, don't take away my memory. -- Carl R. Young 1997. Mp3 Version by Vince Martin & The Tarriers
"Cindy, Oh
Cindy" (Takes A While To Download) Visit Prescott, Ont. Canada.Click on the map below. Find out where the 1960s really happened.
Everything else is just details!
Last Updated 29/04/2000 16:53:52 -0230 |
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