The Bible college in Sydney was very new and I think we (that is the dozen or so others and me) were the first cohort. I remember a lovely grey-haired man, the founder of the college, giving us our first lesson in leadership and I remember his wife, a heavily made-up woman with coiffed hair, giving us our first lesson in (the concept of) love. This same woman was unable to make eye contact and was extremely unapproachable. Our ‘lessons’ were on the top floor of a highrise building and, periodically, we were asked to go to the surrounding glass windows, look down on the crowds and pray for the sinners below.
We lived in a dis-used convent, dormitory style. The cohort was a mixture of aspiring leaders/meglomaniacs; the troubled/depressed; total looneys/looneys; and a couple of normalish, searching people like me. We were all young, but I was definitely the most bewildered and naive. Once, when I accidentally confided in one of the cohort that I was missing Husband-to-be, he gathered everyone together in the basement of the convent, lit candles and attempted an exorcism. Mid-way through this weird event, I broke free of their hands and raced back up the stairs into the daylight, ran down the street to the phone box (there was no phone in the ‘dorm’) and rang my dad. This ended up being my last conversation with him:
Me: Dad, can I come home? These people are weird. (I then told him some stuff).
Dad: Tell them to go to buggery and come home!
Me (crying): Thanks, Dad!
It took a bit of time to arrange my homecoming and I don’t remember the details. What I do remember is having to wait and finish the first 4 month semester. I was happy to do that because I knew I would be going home soon. I missed my parents and I missed Inna desperately, but most of all I missed my Husband-to-be and the missing of him was like always having sand in my eyes.
One morning, during the window session, I had a strong premonition that my dad was sick; that night, the Bible college held a religious skit night and, when I heard the phone ring from a distance (in plush rooms of the grey-haired man and his coiffed wife), I knew, without any doubt, that my father was dead.
jmgoyder 
What a weird experience you went through during that course and I’m sorry you weren’t able to get back home before your father passed away.
Weird all right!!!
It’s so hard to forgive myself for sending you to that dreadful place. I was blinded to everything except the hope that by being away from Husband-to-be, maybe you’d forget him. How could I not have realized the strength of my daughter’s ability to love unwaveringly. All through your childhood you loved unconditionally and fiercely.M.L.
Don’t be such a sillybilly – it all worked out in the end!
It’s amazing the strings attached no matter how far from a daughter’s heart to that of her father’s. I’d never spoke to my step brothers as an adult ever, yet a couple weeks before my dad died estranged from me I knew my two step brothers were trying to find me.
The way you are keeping the story of then you and husband coming in chapters is really a wonderful way to keep us intrigued. I have to wonder if you are finding it cathartic at all? No prying for explanations just a genuine wonder. ~
You are so intuitive, Baroness – and how lovely that your stepbrothers found you!
I am finding this weird, simultaneous writing of a story of now and then cathartic in one way, but, as the next chaps of Love Story are painful to write, they will probably be written very briefly.
Not sure whether to put this love story in a separate blog or leave it here?
Juliexxx
Do you mean a separate blog just for Love Story?
I can completely see the benefits of doing just so. I think for one that the Story deserves a blog if it’s own. Something so tender and sweet, so young and purely naive.
A prefect tribute it would be, you could add photos, even scan things maybe like your marriage certificate or anything significant and meaningful. You would have a digital recorded documentation of all that you want it to be. Something very cherished to pass on to son and maybe someday some son’s mini me’s.
I’d make a trip over now and again and help you sort and organize…. times of told love story a gift I’d hold sacred forever.
You are so thoughtful and this is great advice and I have started a new (hidden) blog for the love story by itself. I will have a think about what you suggest – yes pictures! Oh thank you!
That Bible college sounds really weird, but then there were many conservative ideas around at that time. I’m glad that you were able to leave before some of those ideas swayed your naivety too far into an unrealistic world-view.
I think the idea of a separate Blog for your Love Story is a great one.
I think you and Baroness are right – a separate blog!
Often well-intentioned people do the weirdest things! Thanks for sharing your beautiful love stories.
You are welcome!
Girl, who told you you were normal??? bahahaha! Just kidding. That’s the demographic make-up of all schools around here, too. Good thing they weren’t into brainwashing.
I hope your weekend is peaceful and lovely.
Thanks Wisdom! Oh yes I am utterly normal – hehe! Juliex
that is so sad Julie, and to realize that you had an idea that it had happened, how sad
Yes, I am not one for premonitions but I somehow knew – it was strange.
when you described the headmistress i remembered the saying about teaching what we need to learn..I knew when some people close to me died, as well and have had those bizarre experiences-glad you hung in there with your feelings and thoughts.keep the story coming. I love it as it comes-remember to keep it- maybe it will be pubblished Jane 🙂
Thanks Jane – sounds like you know what I mean! Juliex
from both sides, actually LOL
LOL is right!
You mean we won’t be able to read any more of it now? If it’s a separate (secret) blog? But I’m hooked….
For the time being I’ll keep it where it is! You’re hooked? That’s great!
Ouch.
Ouch is right!
OK, now I love your dad, too!
Haha!
I would want to go home, also.
Yes – it was a horrible experience.
Gosh Julie – exorcism? Unreal. It seems you have very good and strong instincts…and listen to them. Such a wonderful gift. I’m so sorry about the way you lost your father while away – and can only imagine how difficult that must have been. Incredible that you had such a premonition too.. do you get these often?
As for your Love Story/Book/Screen Play/Broadway Show etc. 😉 I am so glad you have begun a separate blog. It does deserve its very own platform, and readers will be able to flow it easily from the start now~ and those publishers scouting out great material will get to find it!!
Photos too — perfect! Can’t wait till you go public.
Sending Hugs from Boston (daughter’s graduation! – 5 hours later I made it here!!) xo
Oh Robyn I hope you make it to the graduation! But if you can’t you can’t – you can only do what you can do!
Re premonitions – no, I have never had another one, thank goodness!
Thank you Dear Julie… was quite an adventure getting here – and did not decide till this morning. My daughter wrote me the most beautiful letter explaining that she was fully ok with me not coming. I wish I could post it but I fear she’d disown me? Maybe I’ll ask? I’m happy just to be part of the family memory in any small way I can 🙂 Ok, no more premonitions – hmmm – was about to ask you to predict where this mess is going for me ~ but maybe for the best if we don’t’ predict – right? 😉
I would love to see your daughter’s letter but it may be too private.
Oh, that’s heartbreaking, Julie.
I laughed at your Dad’s comment – he sounds like mine and obviously loved you very much 🙂
He was the best!
Seriously weird place! Wow. From your sheltered life, you sure were suddenly getting a varied education.
Very weird place – character building haha!
So very sad! I’m so sorry!
That’s so sad. But I’m glad your last conversation was one where you needed his help, and he gave it.
And I’m VERY glad you got out of that terrible place.
Me too – thanks Tilly!