After high school and nursing school, my life path moved away from many of the people who had been my friends. With some, separation came after I had my daughter (and "responsibilities"). I lost contact with others when I moved to an adjoining State and rarely got back home. And, after (mumbling) 18 years, I suddenly wanted to "re-connect" with those folks. Is this a common thing, wanting contact with buddies from high school and college days? It must be.
Some people were very hard to locate. I looked for Jackie for over a year. We both had babies when I last saw her. I never wrote down her married name (who would think I might forget her name! Not me.) It was exciting when I found her! She was my first real "best friend." I think the most important thing Jackie gave to me was acceptance. And she came into my life at a time when I needed that the most. And her humor. I badly needed her humor in 9th grade. Before 10th grade, my mom had died. Then I lost contact with Jackie when I changed schools.
Another hard-to-find person was a teacher in grade school who I'll call Miss Lynn here. I'd actually looked for her during high school, but she had moved. This past year, I finally found her (it was SO easy this search!). Miss Lynn had "valued me," and I had so needed that! She was the first person to tell me I was a good writer, too. Writing was something I would end up burying for a number of years. Only after others complimented me did I remember that Miss Lynn had been the first person to tell me that I was a gifted writer.
Jenny was a high school friend, then a nursing school friend. As she said the other day, we always seem to re-find each other. I always admired Jenny. She had a wisdom I felt I lacked and could express thoughts so clearly. She was always honest and direct in a non-hurtful way. And there was a stability about her, regardless of what was going on around her. We both had young children but she seemed much more comfortable in the mothering role than I did. We both went into home care nursing, but Jenny ended up doing much more with her nursing career; I got injured. About a year ago, Jenny had a pretty bad stroke and now cannot resume nursing. Our lives, so different, parellell each other's in so many ways.
There were also guys I had dated who I wanted to contact. Chip had been one of my first dates. He was a DJ at the local radio station. I'd actually re-contacted him maybe 10 years ago, but that day was the day he was bringing his wife and baby daughter home from the hospital ! Who would have thought he'd get married! A few months ago, we got in touch again. He'd had 3 children, been divorced... This past week, he called to say his ex-wife had been killed in a freak accident! And now, he is a full-time Dad.
Dave was my first love. Now I don't know what I ever saw in him! He, too, got married and is happy with his life. I don't know what his wife sees in him either!
I have looked for other people I used to know, but I haven't been successful in finding them yet. A few I found had died (that's sad). One I never contacted; I knew Rich in nursing school, a jolly fellow. He had married and although I had thought about him, I didn't want to intrude. Then, I spotted his obituary online. I wish now I had contacted him just once.
I wonder.... are there other people who have thought of me? Thought of me to the point of looking for me? I wonder if I did something for someone too, like I feel about the people I've re-contacted? If so, I hope they find me.
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