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by Buddy Harwell, Raymond, Mississippi

Source: Avonlea Traditions Chronicle, Issue No. 26, Winter 1998/9.

Now, how do you become a member of "the hubbies of L. M. Montgomery fans?" You must start with the qualifications to become one-the first step is to be very, very patient. If you cannot muster this one up, then you may never become a member of this elite group of guys! If you think you can remain in charge of things-forget that, my friend, also!!

Are you willing to go places you know you or anyone else should not be-that is, on private property, closed buildings and houses just because L. M. Montgomery stayed there, studied there, ate there, worked there, may have walked by there? Or the best one, L. M. Montgomery may have been there at one time-"I just know that this is probably the place or site because I read it, or saw it in some book-it was a white, or gray, or brown or stone or cedar shake or clapboard, or some other kind of building material..."

To go on, are you willing to drive hundreds of miles (or kilometres, it's shorter to me) to see some site before darkness sets in? The reason given, "I think it's just thirty, or forty... well, maybe eighty-five miles there, just past the little wooden church building where there is a small spruce tree..."

Let's stop and review now-are you still interested? You must decide at this point, because if not, you can't take the rest of the test-you'll never make it! Are you willing to see the villages of Ontario and the Maritimes with one eye closed and squinted (that's what you'll see through the lens of the camera and/or camcorder-after seven trips to Canada, I have to admit, I've never seen it with both eyes open!).

Next, can you stand around in a library, museum, archives, church site and/or cemetery and look intelligent and overcome with enthusiasm? Well, you had darned better-or L. M. Montgomery fans will leave without you and you'll wonder-where has everyone gotten to?

Next (and very importantly), can you spot an L. M. Montgomery book from 40 feet away, tell when and where it was published and how many times it was reprinted? You'll learn, or you'll be left at home (or at the motel, hotel or B&B Inn).

Do you know how many Anne dolls (notice I did make certain there was an "E" at the end) you can carry in one trip and distinguish which ones are porcelain, vinyl, what dress she is wearing, or what scene this one appeared in? You will learn, only if you can hold up...

Did I mention how super efficient I have gotten with a camera (either moving or standing still, on the roadway, out of a car window, airplane, etc.)? I can carry upwards of fifteen L. M. Montgomery books in one grab (see photo) and even carry on somewhat of an intelligent conversation with the best of the L. M. Montgomery scholars. My facts may not be 100% yet, but I'm learning-I can walk on movie/TV sets with no reservations whatsoever (lost my fear of that right away); I am known by most of the photo developing shops on Prince Edward Island and Ontario; car rental clerks know me by sight (a Hertz employee told me that if I threw in another $200.00, I would own the car); the airport personnel in Atlanta, Cincinatti, Toronto, Charlottetown call me by my nickname and the Customs folks ask us, "What are you guys doing back this way?" Complaining? Heck no-I've learned to love it!

Are you willing to go places you know you or anyone else should not be-that is, on private property, closed buildings and houses just because L. M. Montgomery stayed there, studied there, ate there, worked there, may have walked by there? Or the best one, L. M. Montgomery may have been there at one time-"I just know that this is probably the place or site because I read it, or saw it in some book-it was a white, or gray, or brown or stone or cedar shake or clapboard, or some other kind of building material..."

Well, I think you get the gist-of-this-list-it's up to you now. As we like to say down in the Southern U.S.A., "it's either the Anne way or the highway..."

I could go on and on quizzing you as to what it takes, but I'll just stop here. Why? Because I have to make something clear at this point. I'm not griping or complaining at all. In fact, I'm going to share a little secret here-I got "broke in" real quick to being an L. M. Montgomery fan hubby-and you know what? I learned to love it. Yep, that's right, I love it. Here's my story:

My wife, Mickie, got interested in Anne of Green Gables about six or seven years ago thanks to a dear friend (and kindred spirit), our next door neighbour. Mickie was enthralled by the book and movie, so to celebrate our thirtieth wedding anniversary, I decided to take her to Prince Edward Island where it all began.

She was thrilled by the idea, so off we went in 1995 to some place I had never heard of or seen in my life. Well, this trip led to many, many hours of Anne study, then to L. M. Montgomery study and so on from there. Mickie just had to see all the sites, talk to people who had known L. M. Montgomery, or lived near her, who now owned the houses L. M. Montgomery lived in-you name it. But the most wonderful thing that happened to us (yes, even me), was the development of close friendships that will last a lifetime. The past six or seven visits to the Island and to the Toronto area have been blessed by so many grand ladies and gentlemen. We have been able to share things that are engrossed in our hearts forever.

There are many wonderful people who initiated me into the L. M. Montgomery groups, to whom I owe thanks. The main one of course is Mickie-she laughed at me, wept with me when I was sore and worn out, showed patience and understanding, even promised to pay me back the $$$ when we get back to Mississippi if I would just pay for one more doll or book-"this is the last one, I promise, Bud..." Oh, have I heard that... Does it bother me? Shoot, no. I can't wait until our next trip up north.

Please join this elite club of L. M. Montgomery fan hubbies-I guarantee you will be rewarded. If you don't join, you may just fade away in the sunset-the Prince Edward Island sunset that is!

Lastly, I must acknowledge the "King of the L. M. Montgomery fan hubbies"-my dear and wonderful friend Harold Clark, and his blessed little wife, Wilda. I think Harold started it all... And good old Jack Hutton, who taught me well-"Just do what you're told and enjoy it!" I have, Jack!!

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