Bridging the old with the new.

My oldest son, B, brought home straight A's for the first semester of 7th grade yesterday. Even though he's slightly awkward, slightly boy, slightly pubescent, he makes me cry tears of joy that he's handling these middle school years so much better than I ever did. Making straight A's and exceling in 2 sports too. He's quite the kid to be proud of. :D

I still can't believe I have a teenager. I still feel like one myself sometimes! Speaking of...

A few weeks ago I ran into a girl I've known since elementary school. We knew each other and lived in the same neighborhood -- she was a grade ahead of me -- but never really became friends until high school when we were on the same pom team. Holly quickly became one of my great friends and we shared some really wonderful times together growing up. I feel like she knew me even before I knew myself.

Sometime in college our lives took different paths, I left town and we lost touch. I went on to have some seriously rocky 20's, grow another 4 inches (Holly didn't, LOL), enter & get out of an abusive marriage, finish college, get remarried, have a tribe of children, make new friends. The distant memories of high school started getting a little fuzzy around the edges.

Running into Holly innocently at Kohl's lit a spark in my head. I was SO happy to see her, so happy to reconnect and still scratch my head over how we let life get in the way and our friendship fall by the wayside. It happens I guess, through no ones fault, it just does.

Since seeing her, my head has been flooded with all these wonderful memories. She told me her mom passed away and I was almost overcome with emotion over a woman I have not seen in like 17 years. Holly's mom listened to you when you spoke. She didn't talk at you nor over you, she talked TO you. Holly's mom made me feel that my words, my feelings, my conversations were important. I'm incredibly sad I never got the chance to tell her so.

Holly and I had some serious schemes going at all times. We were good girls... well, on the surface. We were forever doing something on the down-low and many a'boys were kissed by me in the back of Holly's monster car. Her car was like 100 feet long and must have been a gas-guzzler because she charged me $2 every time I got in it, I swear. I wouldn't trade those $2 memories for $200 now.

Holly began dating her now-husband when they were in the 8th grade. Good 'ol teddy bear Bruce -- I cannot believe they are still together after all these years, with 2 kids to boot. That there is some amazing testimony as to what love will bring you through, if you're willing to stick it out and make it work.

Steve, Steve, there was this guy named Steve. Holly was convinced I should make my moves on Steve because as Bruce's good friend, she was stuck with Steve's long-time girlfriend all the time. As far as Holly was concerned, she should be stuck with ME all the time. Our plot didn't work, Steve stayed with his woman but not before kissing me first. hahahahaha! I swear I saw Steve from a distance at Hobby Lobby just last week and whether it was really him or not, I got a real belly laugh out of the memory.

As my head fills with the distant, hilarious memories of being in high school, my brain quickly brings me to my life right now. I have a wonderful husband, 4 great kids who only annoy me on a part-time basis, a beautiful home that will never sell because its too expensive for the housing market right now (something I should be thankful for & stop cursing), and I have been blessed with an incredible circle of friends who love me just as I am; quirks, oddities, wild fascinations and all.

I can only hope that running into Holly and exchanging email addresses will build a bridge to include her in my current circle of friends as these past few weeks of flooding memories made me realize that wow, I've really missed her in my life.

Holly - far left
I'm 3rd from the left (90's hair & all...)
Our sidekick Christine is 5th from the left.