Trying to Connect with Old Friends

Where do you begin to look for someone you haven’t seen in 38 years?  She was my neighbor,my bus driver in Jr. High School and our family friend.  She had a son, his name was Scott but they called him scooter.  Anne had a daughter she was a baby while Anne drove the school buses for Norfolk City School back in the early 70’s.  The buses weren’t owned by the schools back then they were private owned by a man who kept them over on Becker Street and Little Creek Road, I’m not 100% on Becker St. though.  Well I guess I should start from the beginning. My name is Cathleen Myrick.  Before my family moved to Virginia Beach,VA we lived in Norfolk, VA.  My father was a Norfolk Fire Chief, he was on the Department for 32 years and he loved the Department. Sadly Jessie Jay Myrick  was killed in 1986.  We all miss you daddy and you should see Jessica Shea:).  We grew up from the time I was 6 years old until I was 14 years old was a great neighborhood.  One step back before that we lived in across the street from the city zoo and park.  On a daily basic I was in trouble for crossing Granby Street to go to the zoo, “alone” from 4 to 5 years old.  I also one day on my way to school (JB Stuart in the  60’s) was approached by a naked man in a car.  I have to say at 5 years old that scared me to death.  I ran to school and told my teacher, they called the police and my mom and dad, omg how tragic for a 5 year old so WE MOVED:).  I know now at 50 years old what I would have done if happens today.:)   Anyway this person always told on me every time I did something wrong.  I don’t know how many times my neighbors busted me for smoking or hanging out with friends that I wasn’t suppose to be with. (they were older than me, I baby sat for bikers alot)  That’s another story we’ll talk about the Confederate Angels later.  Keep in mind this is the late 60’s early 70’s.  Now I’m jumping all over the place!

Anne Cole is one of the persons I’m trying to find from the old neighborhood.  I think her husband’s name was Chuck?  I’m not sure we had Charles and Chuck.  Charles Clayton bought our house when we moved to Virginia Beach.  As I said before son, Scott or scooter I can’t remember the daughter name. I do remember when scooter was playing baseball in the street on Edwin Drive in Norfolk, VA and swung the bat and hit his baby sister with it.  It pushed her top teeth up in her gums.   The next person is Clem Southall, Jr. lived on Simon’s Drive in Oakdale Farms where we grew up. I saw him back in the early 80’s in a bar off Baker Road and haven’t seen him since.  I really hope  with all my heart he is alive because he had a serious drug and alcohol problem then.    I know his mother remarried because I saw her at Northside Park with him back in the 80’s at the softball fields.  I can’t think of his name but he lived on Edwin Drive and the corner of Kale Lane right around the corner from the Southall’s  house.  After Clement Eugene Southall Sr. died she didn’t waste much time, I’d always heard she was alittle friendly you know…..I guess being kids she thought we were stupid everybody knew what she was.  Her daughter Dory lived where I worked one day Dory came to the front office where I was.  It was so good to see her.   Dory had changed so much, her life was miserable and she show every bit of it.  Even as a child Dory wasn’t a happy child.   I never remember seeing her have friends at her house. I was there everyday after all Clem was my first love and my best friend.  I found out a few days after  she came into the office, Dory shot and killed herself.  If I’m not mistaking she had another sibling that did the same. Curtis Colbertson was another friend that we all hung with.  I remember all the great times we all had.  Curtis was alot of fun and really funny.  I’ve tried to find him as well with no luck to date.  The third person is Helen  Sandborn or Sanborn not sure of the spelling.  I also think her middle name is Marie.  She lived on Dixie Drive on the corner of E. Glen Road.  Henrietta or Marietta I can’t remember back then to me it seemed odd because everybody had such ordinary namesit was pretty though.  Her mother drove a Renault.  In1968 or 69  the Renault looked very ugly so we didn’t want her mother to take us anywhere.  Helen and I weren’t always friends, she use to beat me up all the time for some reason.  Every time I went to the park she was there.  Every time she saw me she beat me up!  Her and her sister one day decided not to trip me over so I would fall.  What was that all about? We become friends from that day on.  I saw Helen one time since I moved to Virginia Beach.   I was in property management in the 80’s, I worked for DB Frye & Assoc. and Kotarides Properties.  We, meaning property managers and contractors we meeting after work for drinks.  Everybody had decided to meet at Knickerbockers, (I know the spelling is wrong)  located at E. Little Creek Road and Chesapeake Blvd. This place is huge inside. Has two bars, one in the middle one off to the right depending on which way your standing. We all had sat in the far back by the exit door so we could just slide out the back door when we left.  My car was in the back lot and the interstate was right there just jump on and be on my way.  After about three drinks I hear “Hey Bitch It’s me where the hell have you been” I knew they voice I could never forget it.  I slowly slid under the table all the suite and tie guys just starred at me. When she approached me from behind I could have died.  It was Helen and I hadn’t seen her since we’d moved to Virginia Beach in the early 70’s.  Boy she looked the same hadn’t changed one bit just a little older.  I think Helen was grown when we were growing up.  She always seemed to be older than what she was.  I had another girl friend from Oakdale Farms.  Cindy Almond at one point she was the best friend I ever had.  She too killed herself, Cindy though killed herself while a teenager.  She had suffered from depression she had always been teased by kids when we were growing up about her ache and her braces. It was very sad.  I use to ride by her house all the time when her mother was still alive.  I heard she died and I don’t go buy there anymore because I love that neighborhood it’s where I grew up and all myhappiest memories are.  I’d give everything I own to have our old house back, maybe one day before I die.  The Manley Family is another they were friends with mom and dad.  Grandma use to babysit for them when they’d go to some Navy event.  Johnny and Gladys Manley great neighbors boy Gladys could cook Spanish food, the best. Not Mexican food Spanish food, I thought it was the same until is was informed.  I remember when Johnny was on ther John F. Kennedy it was the biggest aircraft carrier there ever was we though as children. I know it’s not a lot of information to work with but if you grew up in Oakdale Farms, in Norfolk, VA  between the years of 1962 to 1971 and know of any of the whereabouts of the peoples listed contact me @ cmyrick57@aol.com thank you:)