"You Needed Me"

Ah, this friggin song. I think it was after the car accident the day before my 5th Birthday that led to her going to a chiropractor three years later. This chiropractor was a very sturdy, over six foot woman named Jerry. I remember Jerry lived in a very old Victorian in the nice section of San Bernardino just up the street from the hospital. Mostly I sat in the stamp post sized front office....I can only imagine it used to be a laundry room. Regardless, I was very young...between 7-8 yrs old....and of course, very restless. I would often go wandering in search of the bathroom....not really, she had a very cool Gothic style house and lots of cats. Jerry was not fond of children, but I eventually won her over by talking about my favorite show, In Search Of and the fact that I was very quiet. A lot of abused children have this ability because we don't want to attract attention. To this day, when I walk up to somone I frequently give them a start....particularly children. Jerry eventually let me come in and sit on the stairs to pet the cats.

But I digress, this song always reminds me of that time period. We had an 8 track player in the car and the house....this one was mostly played in the car. But OH the dramatics that occurred every time this one came on.....the tears, the hand gestures, the off key singing. and me trapped in a moving vehicle. I never quite understood who it was directed at, but most likely my father. Mind you, I do like the song and the artist....Anne Murray is awesome, but it always made me uncomfortable with the whole production, and the whole pedestal part, like she deserved it. I refused to listen to it for years, but happened to hear it the other day and it all came rushing back. All the times that I was treated as a confidant, told personal business and punished if I didn't take her side.