The Life and Writings of Barbara Nelson Blinn

“The Surprise Telephone Call” is about Betty who has a crush on a boy, Cliff. She wants him so badly to ask her to the hop but has to wait on him to call. Suddenly, the telephone rings. Betty’s father answers the telephone. Who was the mysterious caller?

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“Nightmare” is about a young woman, Mary Ann, who is walking home late from work on a dark and deserted street. Mary Ann has the eerie feeling that she is being followed. Her instincts were correct because she is attacked from behind. Why had this man followed her? Will she escape before he harms her?

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“Homecoming” is a story about high school student Ann Ellison. She was interested in dating Tony Ames but her nemesis, Claire Boatwright, was dating him. Would Ann ever have a chance with Tony, one of the most popular boys in school?

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“Death on the Highway” focuses on a young couple Julie and Steve who were tragically killed on their way to a dance in this short story set in the 1950s.

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“Unforgettable Prom Night” is a true story I found written on faded green lined paper and slid into one of Barbara’s folders filled with poetry. The writing was dated April 28, 1959 at the bottom of the last page. The words told about Barbara’s junior year in high school. I changed some names to protect identities. Barbara met a boy at a marching band event, and she asked him to her prom, which was something unusual for girls to do in that time. Meeting this specific boy and going to prom with him I believe was the highlight of Barbara’s high school years.

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“Who Were the Midnight Prowlers?” is about a young girl, Glenda Kennedy, who is home alone for the evening and is frightened by a strange car that drives into her driveway. No one gets out of the car and she does not know what to do.

 

“A Talk with Pop” is a story that Barbara journaled in 1980 about spending the day with her father on the rare occasion her mother was not home. It was unlike any day she ever spent with him. Barbara was in an abusive relationship with her husband and was still dealing with the loss of her son at the time of this writing. She was lost in a sea of depression. This time with her father set Barbara on a course to empowerment for what would become some difficult years ahead while she overcame a divorce, the death of both parents, and two criminal trials with her then current husband.