Remember writing that in grade school on notes you would pass? I always passed mine to a select few girls. We had our group, pretty much the same group up until high school graduation. I still know where all those girls are these days. I see them at weddings, baby showers and some day I will see them at funerals. That is the extent of us keeping in touch. I also hear about them through my mom. She always ask if I've talked to so and so. Did I hear about what happened to them or what they named their baby....
You see my Mom has kept her same friends since grade school. Of course she has gained friends along the way, but my Mom has pretty much had the same gang of friends since childhood. Most of them live in the same area, but at one point I think they all moved away and then came back. Even so, they kept in touch. Here lately I've seen my Mom and her gang grow even closer. They've been through marriages, divorces, children, jobs and now they are all experiencing illness and even death. Two of my Mom's gang have passed away in the last year. I just found out today that one of the "girls" from the gang has stage four lung cancer and they don't think there is much they can do. This is one of my Mom's BFF's.
It makes me sad. I guess one, it makes me realize my Mom is getting older. She isn't OLD by any means, but she isn't in her 30's either. Also, this is a friend of hers that I always thought was the "cool" one. She lived in Tulsa, the big city. She had a career. She bought fancy groceries. She wore neat clothes. She took me to my first OSU football game, on the front row behind the bench. She was the first person to show me the Internet and how much you could do on it. We ordered take-out when I was in Tulsa at her HUGE house. (As a child it was huge to me.) When I met her she didn't have any kids, so she made me feel extra special. She now has a 16 yr. old daughter. I saw pictures from her prom the other day, she's grown up so fast.
Talking to my Mom tonight we just cried together. I felt so bad for her and her gang of friends. They have been through so much and still they are there for each other. I may not have my grade school friends on speed dial, but I do have a very close group of college friends. I know that we will be like my Mom's gang. No matter what we will be there for each other. They are my girls. I, like my Mom, will go through everything with them, even if it is from a distance. I love you all (you know who you are)....BFF.
2 comments:
Mike is the same way. When we go to NY, it's like a huge reunion every time. He's the only one who has moved away and doesn't hang out w/ the old group every weekend. When one of his best friends asked him to be in his wedding (next summer), I could tell how happy he was, that he was still part of that group of guys.
I am so sorry for your mom having lost and potentially losing another friend. She's such a strong woman, but no one should have to go through that. Try not to think of her losses as your potential loss. I'm sure you'll have MANY more years w/ Mama Carol and that beautiful smile of hers.
Because we moved around so much, I don't really have any friends left from school days (HS and college) that aren't merely contacts on MySpace. But I've come to terms with that and I prefer the circle of friends I have now. They're even better than those childhood friends--I just met them a little later.
Big hugs to you. I miss you a ton!
I am blessed to have a similar group of girls, who I call my "Ya Yas." My heart breaks for your mama.
I'll keep her in my prayers!
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