After 18 Years, the Mystery has FINALLY Been Solved

The year was 1988. I was a darling and innocent young girl at the tender age of 9. And I was in love.

His name was Murray Tester.

He had beautiful golden locks, and a killer smile (so what if there were a few gaps from where baby teeth once flourished).

But Murray never knew my feelings for him. In fact, nobody knew. I was too shy.

It wasn't until the last day of Grade 4 before school let out for the summer that I realized how deeply I loved him. You see, Murray announced to his class that he was moving out of the city, and would not be returning to St. Al's in the fall.

WHAT??? MURRAY, NOOOO!!! He was going to leave FOREVER, and I would NEVER get the chance to see the sunshine radiating from his angelic aura again!

In the months and years that followed, I would think about Murray often, if not every day. I recall one such instance where my parents took me for a drive with them out to the perimeter to a vegetable stand one afternoon, in the summer of 1988, with the memory of Murray's devasting news still fresh in my mind. When they were getting out of the car to select their choice of premium legumes and such, I opted instead to stay in the car, pop my new El Debarge cassette into my walkman, and daydream.

But I would fast foward through Rhythm of the Night and The Heart is Not So Smart (rightfully so) to listen to my favourite ballad - Who's Holding Donna Now. Only, MY version of the song - the one I would sing in my head, substituted Donna for Murray.

Sometimes a love won't let go
Hard as I try I know it shows
Everybody's telling me
You'll be over HIM eventually
But how am I supposed to feel so secure
When I keep wonderin'
Who's holding MURRAY now
And I keep wonderin'
Who's heart HE's knocking around
There's nothing I wouldn't do
To be in HER shoes somehow

And I keep wonderin'
Who's holding MURRAY now
And I keep wonderin'
What magic can be found
To turn me back to the one
Who's holding MURRAY now

(Did I mention I was 9 YEARS OLD??)

Let me just say that I am indeed happily married, and am super lucky to be with Dono - but I have to admit, every now and then, I'll hear that El Debarge classic, and I'll be transported back in time to the summer of 1988, in the backseat of my parent's car, with that walkman just a-blastin' in my little ears, and a boy named Murray on my mind. Whatever happened to him? Where did he move to? Is he still alive?! Who IS holding Murray now?

Well, after nearly 2 decades of uncertainty, my questions were answered in one unsuspecting night.

Last Wednesday night, June 14th, Dono and I went with our friends Tannis and Troy to see Nacho Libre. As Dono and I made our way to the pretzel stand, I spied a familiar face walking my way......."OHMYGODDONOVANTHAT'SMURRAYTESTER!" I frantically whispered in my hubby's ear (as he is well aware of my "secret past"!), keeping my eyes glued to him in disbelief, watching him as he passed by, oblivious to my presence.

Turns out Murray was going into the same theatre we were going into, watching the same movie, sharing the same air!

And so, to answer the question spawned by El Debarge so many years before, there's some skinny little brunette who's holding Murray now!

(I love you Donovan!) lol

Finally, one mystery solved....now let's get crackin' on that Area 51 business.


Currently playing: Coldplay - Talk