A Not so lost friend

Last week I had the opportunity of going back to the town that I grew up in. I lived their until I was 15.  When we moved it was 1 of the hardest things that I thought I would ever go through. Looking back at it all it was the best thing that could have ever happened for our family. I don't miss much about that town. It was a very small farming town. I mainly miss the people that was so involved in shaping and molding my life. 

The 1 person I miss most is my friend Erica. Her and I grew up almost like sisters.  We did everything together and alike. We even wanted to dress alike. Once her mom made us 3-4 matching outfits. We wore them to camp and matched every single day. We also used to get our pictures taken together. We would have her mom drive us to Sears at the mall and we would coordinate our outfits and get our pictures taken.  

I loved Erica so much. I dreaded moving day. The summer that we moved we spent so much time together. I think I stayed out at her house for a good solid week. We spent our days laughing and talking and crying over our separation. I think at 1 time we even contemplated running away together. I just couldn't imagine my life without her.

Eventually the moving day came and my new life began. I think that I had the easier end of the bargain. It is always easier to be the one leaving then the one being left. I had all new people to meet and new things to see and do. Since we were the only girls our age at our church, I can only imagine how lonely she felt. 

We kept in contact as much as we could. We wrote letters and we talked on the phone a little. Since it was long distance, our parents tried to limit how much time we spent talking to each other. 

When Hunny and I decided to get married, there was no other person that I wanted to be my Maid of Honor. She was it.  

When Brother lay sick in the hospital, and we didn't know whether he would live or die, she came to visit us. Only staying a few minutes, but just knowing she was there meant so much to me.

We didn't see each other a whole lot, but we really tried to keep in touch. We would  get together for our baby showers, and then there were the couple of times we would meet in the middle of our 2 towns and have lunch together.

When our accident happened, she called us the very next day when she heard ( how I'm still not sure ) but she was worried. And she prayed.

Life happens sometimes. She moved to California with her Husband who is a Marine, and is now living in Maryland. 

These past couple years we haven't really kept in such close contact with each other. But I have thought of her often and missed her even more. Sometimes I would talk to her and not really know the other person on the other of the phone. So much happens in our lives and when you don't talk to someone for a while, you don't quite know what to say. But I still missed my childhood friend, my best friend. There was so much that I wanted to say and couldn't quite find the words to say.  But I could pray. I admit that I didn't pray like I should have. 

But when I found out that she was in Ill last week visiting her parents, I desperately wanted to see her.  I prayed all would work out, and it did. The next day, I was off. The kids and I traveled the 4 hours 1 way to see her. I was like a giddy school girl the whole way down. Remembering all our times together. 

We spent the whole day together. It went oh so fast, and I enjoyed it oh so much. We were able to really catch up with each other.  It was just enough time to realize how much we have missed and how much we need to stay in touch.

It was nice to have the kids together also. I know that they won't grow up really knowing each other. I think it's more special for us mommies to have pictures of our kids playing together.

1 of the highlights for my kids of the whole day was riding in the combine. Erica's dad took them on a long ride while he was harvesting wheat.

Another person that I have thought of often is Kathy. I babysit Kathy's kids the summer that I moved. We had many long talks where she would just listen to me. I was a very confused and sometimes I think angry teenager, and she just patiently listened to me. And she loved me. Without judgement or confrontation. She listened and loved. Just what I needed at that time. I had to many other people judging. I could be me and be honest with her. And she loved me.

I have often thought about her as I listen to my "little" sister. B/c of Kathy, I think it has helped me to just be that person to listed and love Joy. She doesn't need ANOTHER person telling her what to do, or judging her b/c of decisions she makes. We all make those stupid decisions that we wish that we could take back. But that's what molds us and makes us into the person we are today.

(sorry, I have to gotten on a rabbit trail.)

Anyway, as I was driving home I was very teary eyed leaving Erica. But it has given me a resolve to stay in touch with her. No matter what.