Life can be happy and sad. When we are young, sadness doesn’t stay around too long. We take in the moment, then let it go. But as we get older, we begin to experience sadness in a different way.
Yesterday, I learned about a childhood friend passing away, and my heart is heavy with sadness. I know these things happen, but that just doesn’t make it any easier. The end of April brought the end to her life.
We moved as a family to Spring Street — which really was an alley with houses. Everyone knew everyone. There were lots of kids, and the neighbors were nice. These were the days when you played outside, made up games, and just as things were getting fun, mom called you in at dark! It always seemed our Hide and Seek game was squashed for the night. When I think back to that house, it was very small for a family of eight. We made do. Our backyard was the greatest, along with an old garage that we used for a playhouse.
Our neighbors, the Myers, lived beside us. Pauline had a sister with two girls — one a bit older than me and one a bit younger than me. Eventually, they moved to the neighborhood, and we became besties. There were many “fun times”, and those occasions when we fought. We would throw what they had given us over the fence. Yes, we made up. My mother would never get involved in our clashes. She said kids would make up and go on, and adults would still harbor bad thoughts. Mom was very wise in that respect.
Things I remember with my bestie.
We liked to roller skate out Jones Street to MGhee School. Yes, with skate keys around our necks. There was a hill in front of our school, and down we would go! We loved our roller skating.
The one particular thing that I still remember was the summer when we wallpapered our playhouse in the garage. Wanda’s mom had leftover wallpaper. We collected pop bottles to buy the paste. We mixed the paste with our hands, then applied it to the paper. We had no wallpaper brushes. It turned out good.
Summers at the city beach on the river. What a way to cool off! Frozen candy bars were just five cents. Her mother would always walk them to the beach and back. Wanda’s mom was very protective of her children. There were not too many times the girls would be allowed to do things on their own.
Time passed and we grew up. Our favorite adventure was driving 30 miles away to get a Big Mac at McDonalds. This establishment had not come to our little town as of yet. She had a car, and we enjoyed it.
Both of us eventually got married and had kids — two kids each. Wanda’s daughter could hold her own again my two boys and her brother. We helped each other out all the time. My husband was always traveling the world. I don’t know what I would have done without her. Wanda was always there for me, as I was for her. She could give me a few hours brake, and help me to keep my sanity! She was good friend that I could confide in. Those are rare.
When my boys got married, both she and husband traveled to the weddings — one in Toledo and one in Atlanta. They were just a part of the family.
Over the years we lost touch. I would often think about the fun times we had. So, when I got the news, it arrived with a sadness that will always be in my heart. A good friend gone. Somehow it is important to just think about the good times that make you smile. I don’t know what life would have been like without my dear friend.
Well, life goes on. Friends and family pass on. I believe it is one of the hardest things to cope with in life—especially, when someone close to us leaves this earth.
Here’s to you my dear friend. I love you and will miss you.