Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Dec 22/99) - Rankin Inlet's Barb Patterson had no idea of the surprise in store for her when she answered her phone the evening of Dec. 6.

The voice on the other end turned out to be a real blast from the past for Patterson and, seconds later, two old friends were back in touch.

Patterson had worked with a woman named Cathy Fornar at Ranchland's Pizza and Steak House in Calgary about 16 years ago.

These days, Fornar works with the Canadian Red Cross and her habit of keeping in touch with Northern affairs led to the two pals getting reacquainted.

"I'm the person for the Red Cross who supports both the NWT and Nunavut," said Fornar.

"I was in Yellowknife about the beginning of November and I picked up a copy of News/North.

"I just happened to notice the Look Who's Reading feature and there was Barb's picture."

Fornar says it was quite the experience seeing Patterson's picture because she had been thinking about her a lot during the past few years.

"I was wondering what she was up to. I never dreamt she'd be in Nunavut.

"I saw her and thought this is a sign that I have to give her a call."

Patterson says the two old pals had a lot of catching up to do and talked for more than 45 minutes.

"It was just great. A wonderful experience," says Patterson.

"I'm going to Calgary for Christmas vacation and I'm going to look her up while I'm there."

Fornar says she's looking forward to Patterson's visit and is happy her reading habits led her to an old friend.

"I read the different Northern papers online on the NNSL (Northern News Services Ltd.) Web site and find it very useful in my work," says Fornar.

"I work out of the Calgary office and find the papers give me a sense of what's going on in the different communities. I read them on a weekly basis."

Patterson says the whole thing came as quite a surprise, but one she thoroughly enjoyed.

"It's always nice to hear from friends from your past and know they haven't forgotten about you," she says.

"Cathy said I still look the way I did 16 years ago. I said you've got to be kidding, I must look somewhat older, but she said, 'No, you look exactly the same.'"

"I'll never forget the first words out of her mouth once she was sure it was me.

"'What the hell are you doing in Rankin?'"