“Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other’s gold. A circle is round, it has no end, that’s how long I want to be your friend.” (Girl Scouts of America song)
Yesterday, I spoke of a weekend filled with an assortment of gifts. As promised, I’m going to continue unwrapping those gifts one at a time throughout the week. Today’s gift comes in the form of having visited an old friend in her new suburban home in the Minneapolis area.
Lori and I met in the fall of 1986. We worked together in the music department at Minnesota State University Moorhead and hit it off fairly quickly. By the year’s end, neither of us had roommates lined up for the following fall. I enjoyed working with Lori and had thought about asking her if she might consider rooming together. I can’t remember who asked whom first but I do recall finding out that she’d had the same idea. It was a done deal and I was thrilled it had worked out so nicely. We stayed in touch throughout the summer, planned our dorm color scheme (mauve), and later, shared some crazy moments building a loft in our tiny Neumaier hall dorm room to create more livable space. It was a great year full of new experiences, and wasn’t the first year we were roommates. Several years down the line, Lori flew from her temporary home in NYC to be one of five bridesmaids in my wedding.
It was so great to see her again, and we discovered quickly that our mutual gift for gab that used to keep us up all hours of the night has not rusted over the years. We had no trouble filling several hours of time. The next morning, after I was woken by her little son’s sweet voice singing “Elmo’s World,” as soon as the coffee began flowing, we started in again and didn’t stop until it was time to part; after our “girls only” brunch with her daughter and a double group hug (orchestrated by said daughter) had been accomplished.
I was still only hours into my wonderful weekend at that point. If my weekend had ended there, I would have deemed it a most precious experience, but it truly was only the beginning!
Thanks, Lor, for reminding me that golden friendships can truly keep their sparkle through the years. Our time together was a treasure to me.
Stay tuned for gift number three!
If you could receive a gift, any gift, today, what would it be?
Another beautiful gift, wonderfully told. Lori’s children sound so precious! Seeing them in their loving home must have warmed your heart. Love the picture! Glad you two were able to reunite.
And I can’t help but hum the melody when I read that familiar Girl Scout lyric. Silver and gold do make for a lovely color combination, don’t they!?
Roxanne – You should have more “young” readers! I’m a firm believer that we, the young, should not just be reading what our peer group thinks we should be interested in. I find myself communicating with people of all ages and backgrounds: In each I can find a distinct pleasure.
I love reading. Especially things that are well written. Words fascinate me and most especially how some people are able to employ them. You are one of these writers. I love your reflections.
You look like you have a beautiful family. I commend you for your efforts…I have yet to begin. 😉
I’m so happy you find time, though you are married and have kids, to write.
Lyd, you seem beyond your age in how forward-thinking you are, and with a broader perspective than most. You say you read things beyond your peer group, and I am the same. You can find me, frequently, reading young adult novels, partly because I am at the beginning of writing one now, partly because there are so many good ones out there now (and a few not-so-good ones as well, of course). Writing has been a true joy for as long as I can remember, and it seems you’re claiming it as a passion as well. There are few things as sweet as a well-turned phrase. I look forward to reading more of your thoughts in the coming year.
Christina, now you’ve got ME humming the tune. It just seemed so appropriate for my post. :)Thank you for stopping by and being such a light.
I would wish to receive the blessing of restored health for my step-father who is struggling with kidney failure and difficulties with dialysis. My children adore their Grandpa John. He is too young to suffer so much, and it pains me to know how hard this has been for my mother and for him.
Thanks Roxane! What a sweet ode to our time together. I also truly enjoyed our gab-filled hours. It’s like no time passes when we see each other – we pick up where we left off the last time we saw each other, even if it’s been years. That’s a true mark of a solid, lasting friendship, I think. And it’s funny you mentioned that song because I just sang it to Shaelin the other day and of course, I didn’t remember the last line and worse, I didn’t remember how/why I knew it (despite my years of girl scouts!). So, while my memory fails me sometimes (okay, often) our friendship is enhanced by our collective memories – old and new. And when we’re old, our children grown, and perhaps we’re roomates once again, we’ll be reminding each other of the things we know.
I love this Lori! I’m smiling huge, and now, you’ve got me imagining us in the old folks’ home somewhere between Fargo and Minneapolis. Oh, this is a great thought. And by the way, my memory often fails me too, so you’re right. Collectively, we’ll be able to piece it all together to tell the beautiful story of our lives.
Sounds like you gals will be in the memory care unit! Ha. I’ll be there, too. I’m humming the Elmo song, thank you very much!
Lori and I did work together at State Bank. Love seeing how friendships last the test of time, get repolished, and shine like new! Shine on, beautiful women!
Mary, you are absolutely welcomed to join our little circle of old ladies someday. And since you’ve already met Lori, no introductions will be necessary. Isn’t that wild, in and of itself? And it’s possible it was one of the years we were roommates, which just blows my mind! As Lori was in our dorm getting ready for work, she was heading off to work with someone who would come to be a very close friend in some far-off day. Amazing how God works to bring us together.
Shannon, somehow I missed your post when it first came in, but you can be assured I will pray for Grandpa John. We have a Grandpa John as well. He went to heaven two Octobers ago. I hope it’s God’s will that your Grandpa John will have more time on earth. Sorry for your suffering.