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Great insight and revelation take a lot of time. I'm sure the passing of time from four decades sounded astronomical to one Missouri teen in the early 1970's. She would never have given a thought to approaching sixty years old. She was far too sure of herself in those impossibly short skirts, the knee boots, and fishnet stockings. Swaying through a crowded corridor toward narrow beige lockers.. A special someone waiting at the corner of the stairs to walk with her to the next class... Football mums and long bus rides in the dark to cheer a team of Macon Tigers...And then we wait. First comes love, and then comes marriage.. And then we find for some a baby carriage. And then, we wait some more. In movies the film cuts blur, etching the seasons, quick cuts of night and day, sunrises and red-rimmed twilights all passing in rapid, staccato flashes... In life, time passes differently.
Today marked the fifth or sixth monthly luncheon for girls from Macon Class of 1972. We meet at a local restaurant for a couple of hours. For some of us, it's the first time to reconnect and spend any time at all with those we once knew so much better than we knew ourselves. I sat between my beloved college roommate and a darling girl who had torn us apart by moving away the summer after her junior year. She drove hundreds of miles to visit, to laugh. Also at the round table, my dear lifelong friend. The two of us started together in first grade in Excello school, a one-room remnant consolidated to Macon our eighth grade year. I laughed with my long time soul mate, a girl I have kept close contact with through all our births, Beth Moore studies, sadnesses, and joys. And the adventurous spirit gurgled forth from one who consistently pushes the wings of fate...zip lining, shopping in costume with her daughters.
And one more, my dear friend who had lived in a huge, fashionable home, who turned 60 yesterday ---whose son sent her 600 roses for that milestone birthday because he couldn't be with her from New York...
Nobody felt the need to tell her that was unusual... Or to run off and be married barefoot ourselves. It sounded perfect...
But magically by mutuality of heart, we all fit. The athlete, the happy wives, the florist, the race track vendor, the fiancée, the cutie bug, the nurses, the news writer, the grammas, the singles, the divorcees, the barbecue judge, the zip liners, the caregivers, the yarn spinners... The girls of '72, And me... What a good day to "turn around," wake up from the mist of life, and smile.
Whimsy and Hugs!
7 comments:
How lucky you are, to have been able to have such a wonderful Reunion. I'm so happy for you, my Dear.
Not all trips down memory lane are so sweet. I'm glad yours was. Very sweet.
Gentle hugs,
Tessa~
you write beautifully.....and I loved reading this. I love when you said and "we wonder why they all look old"....so true. :) Have a sweet weekend. xo
Beautiful post.
What a great day for you ladies! Wonderful memories. John Sutton
Oh, Gayla. What a wonderful post. I am so happy that you were able to reconnect to those old friends. I lost many along the way...some to death and some to a change in location...some to lifestyle changes and some "just because". I am jealous that you have those connections to used-to-be-young-girls that grew up into strong, proud women. I am glad you went and glad that you had fun reconnecting. xo Diana
What a beautifully written post!
Such a lovely post! Very glad you went but understand your hesitation!
Laurie S.
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