Church Lady and Flat Shirley

This story was written by SHIRLEY McMILLAN, intended to be read at Barbara's 65th birthday party. Family business prevented her and her husband, Ronnie, from attending, so a large picture of them, Flat Shirley and Flat Ronnie, was sent in their place. (AKA Flat Stanley) It was accompanied by this story.
(Please ignore the fact that the document format and the blog format do not match up!)

“Ba-ba-ba, Ba-Barbara Ann…
Got me rockin’ and a-rollin’, rockin’ and a-reelin’ Barbara Ann!”


Once upon a time, in the quaint little Arkansas town of Arkadelphia, a fine couple with grown children
and almost grown grandchildren became quite convinced that they should find a different church
where they could study and worship without interruption. At last they settled into a storefront gathering
across from the tobacco store, and next door to a beauty shop and auto glass repair store. Flat
Shirley and Ronnie eventually decided to make Fellowship Church their new home.


Soon a dignified(?)... sophisticated(?)... proper (yes, that’s the word!) lady of the church greeted the
Flat Couple, and the Flat Lady was immediately convinced that they could never be friends with the
Church Lady and probably not her husband. My gosh, the Church Couple were too EDUCATED!
He wrote books; she didn’t like dogs; and she had a way of looking straight at you, leaning her head
to one side, and raising her eyebrows that made me very nervous! The Church Couple lived up town
and the Flat Couple lived down on a dirty farm for Pete’s sake!


Did I mention that the Church Lady seemed to be the best mom and nana ever born, which made the
Flat Lady feel like the worst mom and neena in the world? Church Lady’s house was always clean;
Flat Lady’s house was never straight! Nope, friendship was not to be! HOWEVER, when Church
Lady sets her mind to something, you can be assured that it WILL happen. She and her husband organized
and named the small cluster of “mature” members of the church, and the Mellow Fellows
group was born; probably to the chagrin of younger people they know who happen to catch them out
having a little fun.


In the mean time Flat Man is getting better acquainted with Church Man, and they seem to have lots
in common. Church Couple visits in the home of Flat Couple, where Church Lady is joyfully
“slimed” by the cute little white fluffy dog, and her sense of humor peeks through. Church Couple
visits Flat Couple’s student “K-Group” in the home of another Mellow Fellow-er. As Church Lady,
who has a bad back, arrives, she looks at Flat Man with raised eyebrows; he immediately jumps up
from the best chair in the room, and presents it to Church Lady! This amused and won the Flat Lady’s
heart forever, and she began to take lessons from the Church Lady. She LIKED this woman!
Years have come and gone, and in honor of the Church Lady, Flat Lady researched the name Barbara.
It comes from the Greek, though some would say Latin, meaning “foreign/ stranger/ traveler”. Saint
Barbara is the patron of architects, geologists, stonemasons and artillerymen. She’s been around
since the Middle Ages, hence the celebration of this monumental birthday! She may also be known
as Babbette, Barbary, Barbette, Barbro, Bobbie, Bora, Labarbara, Babe, Babs, Barb, and Barbie.
Whatever you call her, she’s quite a gal, and Flat Ronnie & Shirley love her and her devoted husband
Pat, and wish her a very happy birthday!


*******************

Yet another story I thought you might enjoy - -

Jane Quick’s – BARBARA

     If you are here, you know what it’s like to be Barbara’s friend.

     You already know what a treat it is to answer your doorbell and see her soft smile lighting up your doorway.

     There are many other selfless acts of kindness she could be doing – Working with unwed mothers, teaching people English as a second language, being a vibrant, growing church member, playing a myriad of family roles – or – entertaining “old gray haired widows!”

      But Barbara  is ALWAYS with you in the moment. She reminds me of one of Randy’s (JANE’S HUSBAND)  goals which was, “To be FOREVER learning, growing, caring, sharing.”

      Yes! That’s our Barbara! Always learning, always growing, always caring, always sharing….

 Happy Birthday, Barbara!

(Jane Quick is one of the most wonderful ladies Barbara and I know. She is an 88 year old ex OBU English Prof.  Barbara spends a part of each Wednesday afternoon with Jane.)