I am not sure whether you believe in a Supreme Being - God, Allah, or whatever you many call Him. I do believe, that God - as I call him - exists. I also believe He was watching over me for the first two decades of my life, even though I did not follow Him until I was past twenty-one years of age.
Who am I? Well, let me introduce myself. I am the former lead singer of a popular folk-rock group of almost thirty years ago called "Sherri Lee Nelson and the Final Chorus." I am married to a former Toronto Maple Leaf hockey player named Billy Duke. He was recently elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Billy and I met during the final year he played for the Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Hockey Asssociation, on the night they won the Memorial Cup championship. We went together on and off the first year he played professionally for the Leafs.
Our story begins the night before the final game of the regular season of Billy's rookie year with the club. We had not seen each other for about three months, but because of circumstances, we were re-united.
The scene is the parking lot outside the Holiday Inn. The time is 8 pm.
"Sherri Lee Nelson and The Final Chorus" had recently broken up. Because of some negative publicity, in the media, Barney Job - one of the guys in the band - and I were planning on leaving Toronto for San Francisco. We were hoping to get together with the other members of the band. They were trying to make it big in the California music scene.
Billy was supposed to be in his room, but he took a big chance by arranging to meet me in the parking lot.
He had already gone over to the place where I lived, but I was not there. I was trying to sell my car, but I couldn't do it. Barney and I had planned to use the money to get bus fare to San Fransico.
I had always carried a small glimmer of hope that Billy and I would get back together.
Billy had told Barney - who was over there packing the last of the stuff together - that he wanted to marry me. He told Barney to tell me to meet him at the parking lot at 9 pm.
As I drove into the parking lot, I did not know what to expect. When I pulled into the front of the building, I could see a figure in the light that looked similiar to Billy. As I drove closer, I knew it was him. My heart told me that I was doing the right thing, but my head was not sure.
I got out of the little green Fiat. I ran to his waiting arms. Oh, the feelings that were going through my mind as he held me for the first time in over three months. We just stood there in the embrace in what seemed like an eternity.
Then he broke the silence. "I've missed you. I don't know what Barney told you, but I want to tell you myself. I love you. I want to be with you all the time. I want to marry you because I know we belong together."
"Tonight! I want to get married tonight!"
"Sweetness, it's impossible to get a married tonight. We couldn't get a lisence until at least Monday."
"Tonight" I broke his embrace and stated my opinion clearly and a little louder.
"Tonight, I can get you a room right here. Then tomorrow I will phone you in the morning, afternoon. After the game, we can be together. I know that Mom and Estelle will want to come the wedding. Come on, let's go." In spite of the way I felt, I knew that he knew what was best. "I know they can do incredible things these days with medicine. I am going to contact Paul Williams who is a former player on the team. He has now gone into full-time ministry and knows a lot of people who could help you. I will be with you as much as I can. This may take a few weeks."
He took my hand and I followd him into the lobby. When we got to the reservations desk, he got out his credit card. "I'd like a room here for Miss Nelson here, please. Credit it to my account please." He handed the card to the clerk who filled out the appropriate form.
As we waited for the clerk to finish the transition, he took my hand once more and gazed into my eyes. "Paul, I know, is right here in the hotel as he is employed by the team as a spiritual advisor. He told the desk clerk, "Could you please ring Paul Williams' room to see if he is around?" After he asked the clerk, he turned to me again and stated, "May take a sec or two."
No sooner had Billy said the words, then the desk clerk spoke, "He is on the phone right now. One second please for Mr. Duke." The desk clerk handed the telephone receiver to Billy.
Billy spoke into the receiver, "Hi. Paul, this is Billy Duke here. Are you busy...........Okay, listen, I have Sherri right here.........Yes, the same girl in the column........Can you talk to her right now. I have a room right here in the hotel, but I still feel she needs someone to talk to..............Can you meet with her right now?.........Good............." He looked at the number on the key. "She is in Room 409.....Thanks Paul. See you there in a few minutes." He gave the receiver back to the desk clerk. Billy took my hand and led me down the hall ro Room 409.
Paul was waiting for for us outside the room when we went arrived. Billy introduced Paul to me. He took the key from his pocket and unlocked the door. We all went into the room. He told Paul the whole story and said, "I don't want her alone here. Is there any way you can get your wife to come over and talk to her?"
"Sherri, I think that you just need to turn your life around and make a fresh start."
Billy, who had been listening to the whole conversation, tenderly took me in his arms and kissed so gently on the lips. Then he stated, "Sweetness, I would love to stay here with you, but the guys are depending on me to give my best to the game tomorrow night against Buffalo. I have to go now, but I will see you right after the game. I am confident I can leave you in the capable hands of the Williams." He broke our embrace, took my hand and we walked to the door leading into the hall. "I love you, Sherri, very much and don't want to to lose you again." He brushed the hair out of my face and kissed me again, but this time more passionately.
"Bye Billy. I love you too." I opened the door and walked out into the hall with him. We kissed once more and then he left. I watched him walk to the elevators and waved good-bye to him.
Just as Billy stepped into the elevator, Cindy Williams stepped out of another elevator. I whispered out her name loud enough that she could easily hear it, but soft enough as not to disturb the other hotel guests. She looked in my direction and hurried down the hall in my direction.
"Hi, Cindy."
"Hi, Sherri, how are you?"
"Fine. I am so glad that you could come. I appreaciate everything that you are doing for me."
"Sherri, don't hink anything of it. People showed us kindness when we first came to Toronto in 1965. Paul and I believe that it is our turn to show that kindness to someone else."
We went into my room. She went over and kissed her husband hello. We all sat down at the table near the beds. "Well, Sherri, first of all I think you would be more comportable in our home rather than in this hotel room."
"No," I insisted, "I don't want to impose."
"Think nothing of it. Considering the circumstances of your life right now, I think that you would be more comfortaable in our house than here. I don't want to hear anymore about it. Am I not right, Paul?" She turned to her husband for an answer. He just nodded his head in agreement. She continued, "Now, it appears to me is if you don't have any clothes with you. Would you like to go back to your house or apartment to pick up your clothes?"
"Sure," We left the room after turning off the lights. On our way out to the car, we stopped off at the front desk. Since Billy had used his credit card to pay for the room, and I only used it for about an hour, we were sure that the hotel would let him have a credit. It was unethical for the hotel to get double rates for the room if someone asked for the room later.
Also we left a message for Billy as to where I was going to be. Since he would probably contact me in the morning, and I wasn't going to be using the room. it made sense to make him informed.
We stopped off at the loft and picked up all of my suitcases which had been packed when it looked as if I was moving to San Francisco with Barney. Paul, who had his own car at the hotel, also came along as there was a lot of things, in addition to the clothes, which I wanted to keep.
After we had arrived at the Williams residence. and I had settled in the guest room, Ciindy and I had a small midnight snack in the kitchen, which consisted of a cheese sandwich and a cup of hot cocoa.
She explained to me, "Another reason that I don't think you should be alone tonight is the fact is what is there to do in a hotel room all by yourself? Here, you can do a lot more than in an emply hotel room. After all, because Paul is on call at the hotel, and I am alone, I don't mind the company, either. All of our children are grown up and living on their own now, also. So I am solo tonight too. I have also been thinking about somehing also. You don't have any girl friends that you could turn to in a situation like this, do you?"
"No, as a matter of fact, I don't"
"Well," Cindy grinned. "You have me. I don't know you very well well, but I have a feeling we have a lot in common. I would love to get to know you better. Let us enjoy this weekend together to start on that. I was thinking maybe we could go shopping together tomorrow."
"Why?" I asked.
"Why not? You know if we went and got your hair done really nice, I think it would impress Billy. Now, Sherri, don't take offence, but I do like your hairdo. However, if you went to the salon I sometimes go to when I need a lift, they might be able to fix it up so it looks really nice for a change. However, right now I think we should go get some sleep. Maybe we could talk to Paul in the morning and he might still be able to get some tickets for us for tomorrow night. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow."
She went upstairs with me and went into her own bedroom. We exchanged good nights.
