Old Friend

We first met about 43 years ago. She was my nearest and dearest for quite a few years. Life after high school carried us in very different directions and I followed her career with much interest--as well as her life with her family. We just saw each other again this week for the first time in almost 20 years! She hasn't changed all that much--still very pretty and youthful looking, I think. Me? Well, I am a matronly, fifty-something wife and mom.

As you can probably tell, the occasion that brought us together was a sad one. One of her older brothers had passed from this life. He was an extremely successful executive working for a nonprofit. His whole life was spent working for the benefit of others and he was very, very good at it--probably because he believed his work was important. He will be greatly missed by his wife and daughters and by his whole family--as well as those he had worked with. He had great faith and faced his death with courage.

But seeing her and her family really made me take a trip down memory lane? Wanna come along?

We met when we were babes of 14, freshmen in high school. Her family moved a lot. My family had been living in that same house for 10 years. She was smart and funny and different. She had ambition and heart--an unbeatable combination. I admired her. She made my life lots more fun and made me think about hard things. I loved her--and I still do.

In our little town and school, we had Junior/Senior banquets along with the Proms. A real sit-down meal to which we wore our formals. The Prom started after the meal. We went to both our Junior AND Senior banquets date-less--pretty much how we went through high school. I still don't understand why there weren't fist fights over her.

Anyway, here we are at 16, ready for our Junior Junior/Senior banquet.

Can you believe my hair??!!! Hello, Texas Big-Hair! But look at her!

Then one year later:

These pics are from our "career girl" days--between college and marriage. (Although she has had a very nice career which continues to this day--as well as having reared two great children and kept a lively hubby happy!

This is from the last class reunion we attended. It must have been our 20th or thereabouts. That pretty woman between us was one of our dearest high school friends. Isn't she gorgeous? And I'm on the right. My dear friend on left--isn't she still gorgeous too?

One of the amazing things is that I really don't feel THAT much older. But I must be. I can see what's in the mirror! I don't mind the passing of time all that much but I do mind that so many people pass through my life and are gone.

My BF from High school really had a huge influence on who I am. I would be someone very different without her in my life. Thank you!!!!