Old Friends (includes link to song)

I met my dear friend that I had not seen in 16 years yesterday.  Becky welcomed me as if she didn't notice how much weight I had gained and my graying, thin hair.

I had recommended meeting at Mimi's Cafe.  I thought 11am would help us bypass the breakfast rush and beat the lunch rush.  WRONG!  We had to communicate by cell phone to figure out how to meet.  I picked her up and we tried IHOP, still no luck.  We found the parking lot at Olive Garden nearly empty and got a table right away.  It was kind of tucked away where we could talk and the waitress was so patient as we took so long to order because we were already talking away.  I told her about not seeing each other for so long.  She told us to take our time even when we didn't realize the restaurant filling up.

We finally ordered and then she shared a beautiful book of her daughter's wedding pictures.  Such a beautiful family and so photogenic.

Becky was so patient as I worried and complained about my mother.  She listened intently as I described my battle with lymphedema and the preceeding illnesses before getting a diagnosis.

Then I found out she had a battle with breast cancer, but had a new treatment that allowed her to have short term radiation and no chemotherapy.  She has been cancer free for almost 5 years.  Thanks to God.  I couldn't stand losing another friend.  (We lost a college friend to Lupus in 1986.)

In spite of my "babbling and blubbering", Becky managed to catch me up on her family.  We've been friends since I was in 5th grade and she in 6th.  I remember thinking it was so "cool" that she had a whole floor in the top floor of her Mom's 3 story townhouse.

We reminisced about me staying at her house after school my junior year of high school almost every Wednesday until we walked to church that evening and then I returned home with my parents after church.  (We lived in a small town about 30 miles away from Boomsburg, PA where I attended Vo-tech school, my Dad attended night classes at the college and our church was located.)

I had to manage without her during my senior year while she was out here in Bethany for her freshman year of college at good ole BNC (now SNU) where my brother is a professor.  I forgot about our dorm being torn down just a couple of months ago,maybe less!  You can watch a video of the demolition at:
http://snulu.snu.edu/?p=499  and the live webcam of the new construction as well as a slideshow of the projected new facility at: http://www.snu.edu/newreshall (Garey Hall was about 10 years old when I moved in and it's been over 30 years since I lived there.  Whew, I just don't feel that old!)

Becky, I remember you and your sister helping me push that small refrigerator I bought at Service Merchandise all the way up the stairs to the 5th floor.  I don't remember how long it took us, but I remember all 3 of us stopping to rest on the stairs and laughing so hard I almost wet my pants!  Hopefully, the new dorm will have an elevator.  Fortunately, I was able to move to the 3rd floor for my sophmore year and my roomate, Paula was a freshman from the same town and church in Kansas as Becky's roomate, Mary.

I talk to Mary occasionally since she still lives in Oklahoma City and her husband is one of my facebook friends.  (Mary doesn't have facebook!)  Paula and I still have not caught up even though we are facebook friends. (Sorry, Paula... I'll get in touch with you one of these days.) We really should have some sort of girls retreat/reunion so I can catch up with all 3 of you.

Needless to say, Becky and I barely caught up on all the happenings in our lives during all these past years, but we made a promise to get together more often.  I'm going to take her up on that offer to visit in Dallas, maybe in the Spring.

When we finally parted, I looked at my watch and it was almost 4pm.  We must have talked about 3 1/2 hours once we finally got to Olive Garden!  Sorry, Gary... I know you must have planned to leave earlier.

Isn't it great to have old friends?  Friends that look past the age and changes in our lives.  We rejoice with each other in the good times and grieve with each other through the bad times. 

Real friends are the ones that understand when we get so busy with other parts of our lives that we haven't been in touch and yet pick right up where we left off when we meet again.  All of my friends seem to be that way and it doesn't mean that we don't think of each other. 

I think of so many of you often and have wonderful memories of all the good times.  I pray for each of you as when you come to mind and ask that all of you continue to pray for me as I battle the ups and downs with this disability.

Here's the link to the song "Old Friends":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJAujY2Gtj4