Blessed X 4

My sweet mama always said if you have one life-long friend, you are truly blessed. I have been blessed with 4 of them. Each one is so different, and played such a critical part in my life, I want to share them with you.

1. Barbara. My first true friend. We met on the first day of the first grade in 1962. The room was so big and so strange and I didn't have any idea where to sit or what to do...until I saw her smile. You've heard about smiles that can light up a room? Well, Barbara has one of those kinds of smiles. When she smiles, her whole face lights up and you can't help but smile with her. She was the friend who taught me trust. She taught me music. And bowling...lol. I know that I could call on her today, and she would do anything in her power for me. To be loved by Barbara is to be completely loved. After 50 years, I still love you, Sweety.

2. Yvonne. I met my next true friend when we were about 10 years old. Ok, she was 10 and I was 11. She never lets me forget that I am a tad older than she is. Just a tad. Her father's aunt lived next door to me. Since we were not in the same class at school, we were 'away-from school' friends. I loved spending the night at her place. She had 2 sisters, one older who pretty much considered us pests, and one younger that we considered a pest. We had a break in our relationship for a while when we grew up, but we mended that like nothing had ever happened. When I left my husband, at 6am with no place to go, she is the friend I called. Her response? "I've moved, but here's my address, the door is unlocked, tell my boyfriend I sent you." And there I stayed for 18 months til I moved to California. She has hundreds of friends. She's the kind of person who can say, "I'm moving on Saturday" and without saying another word, a dozen people with pickup trucks show up at her place with donuts on Saturday. To know her is to love her. She taught me loyalty. And country music!

3. Becky. She was my 'good girl' friend. Not that the others weren't good girls...they were....we all were good girls....but she is the one who went to church every Sunday. Every once in a while I'd spend the night on Saturday night and go with her. She had the most beautiful long brunette hair. I was so jealous. She also lived across the street from a cute boy who I wound up dating. Becky and I also had a long break in our relationship...14 years to be exact. You see, I had the nerve to steal her boyfriend when we were freshmen, and 2 years later, I married him. She took exception to that. Can't blame her, really, even though her daddy didn't approve of said boyfriend and it wouldn't have lasted anyway. 14 years after this happened, we moved back to our hometown, into a house 6 doors down the street from Becky. She was living in her mom's house with her 3 kids, following her divorce. I had a newborn baby and when I saw her outside one day, I pulled up to show him off. We picked up our friendship right where we left off...just like nothing had ever happened. She became the friend who came to me when I was in the hospital and helped my pull my panties up when post-surgery pain wouldn't let me do it on my own. That's a true friend!..She encouraged my writing and made me appreciate it. She also taught me about Jesus, and that was the greatest gift of all. She taught me forgiveness...hers and His.

4. Mary....Oh Mary, Mary, Mary....Mary and I met in middle school. She was the friend who was always just on the edge of naughty. She had the longest legs and the perkiest boobs of anyone I knew at the time, and she knew how to use them. She was sexy when most of us didn't even know what that meant. I loved spending the night at her place. Her room was the best in the house. She was the oldest of 3 daughters and she ruled the roost (except when her Mom reminded her who REALLY was in charge!) Her room was dark and full of music and exotic smells, and had it's own air conditioner. We'd sit on the bed and call boys and listen to great 70's music, and she'd show me how to put makeup on and what a push-up bra could do.  She was the friend who taught me you could be a good girl and still push the envelope just enough to have a good time.

Every one of these women are so special to me, and it's incredible that we're still friends after 45-50 years. Where has the time gone? They each had a part in making me the woman I became, and I'm grateful for what each one taught me.

I LOVE YOU, GIRLS!!!!