old friends; part 2
THIS week, out of the blue, one of my closest friends from middle school called us on the phone. Mind you, this is someone I haven't seen since 1969!
She finally got around to getting a facebook account and went looking for me. Once you find my last name, it's pretty easy; there aren't many of us.
She had a turbulent life, but seems good now. I think of her often. She was a person I really admired. I was deep in the angst of trying to fit in at a new school, and it had some SERIOUS cliques. The kind that won't include you if you make other "unacceptable" friends. You know -- poor kids, smart kids, fat kids. I wanted so badly to be liked and was secretly ashamed to be ashamed of some of my less "popular" friends.
Lynn was a great role model. She made friends with whomever she liked with no apologies and had the best time. The way she completely ignored the "popular" rules inspired me to "let it go". Still, it was never pleasant at the country club when the other girls would snub me. Yes, the country club. In that dry county we belonged so that Dad could take visiting business people out to dinner *and* get a martini. The only parts I liked were that they had a color TV in the lounge for Bonanza on Sunday nights, and Tab Wickman was sometimes there -- an adorable but unpopular guy 1 year younger than I. He became a "boyfriend"; as much as any 13-14yo had a boyfriend then.
Anyway, HURRAY for finding Lynn again.
She finally got around to getting a facebook account and went looking for me. Once you find my last name, it's pretty easy; there aren't many of us.
She had a turbulent life, but seems good now. I think of her often. She was a person I really admired. I was deep in the angst of trying to fit in at a new school, and it had some SERIOUS cliques. The kind that won't include you if you make other "unacceptable" friends. You know -- poor kids, smart kids, fat kids. I wanted so badly to be liked and was secretly ashamed to be ashamed of some of my less "popular" friends.
Lynn was a great role model. She made friends with whomever she liked with no apologies and had the best time. The way she completely ignored the "popular" rules inspired me to "let it go". Still, it was never pleasant at the country club when the other girls would snub me. Yes, the country club. In that dry county we belonged so that Dad could take visiting business people out to dinner *and* get a martini. The only parts I liked were that they had a color TV in the lounge for Bonanza on Sunday nights, and Tab Wickman was sometimes there -- an adorable but unpopular guy 1 year younger than I. He became a "boyfriend"; as much as any 13-14yo had a boyfriend then.
Anyway, HURRAY for finding Lynn again.