I am strongly influenced by my high school days in Houston. I treasure these 20+ year friendships. While I’ve lost touch with some, the internet allowed me to stay in touch with a core group. A friendship philosophy I developed in college still applies today. My philosophy is, if we have ever been friends, real friends, then time and distance are meaningless. I’m your friend forever, with no strings attached. You can walk back in to my life and I’ll be thrilled to hear your voice and we will pick back up right where we left off.
And if I don’t call you, or email you, or IM with you…that doesn’t mean I don’t think of you often. For example, Michelle (Meesh) Gardner, one of my best friends since junior high, has an incredibly strong influence on me. It is as though I carry her voice in my head. Often, when I need advice…I’ll literally think of my dear friends, and it is as though I can hear their words of wisdom in my ears. And yes, Meesh is always brilliantly opinionated, bitingly sarcastic and unerringly on target.
Over the past week I’ve been taking a wonderful stroll down memory lane that was triggered by an extra order of shrimp at dinner last Friday. The manager of the restaurant arrived at our table with a side order of shrimp for my son. As he placed the dish on the table, I saw a sparkle in his eyes that triggered a 20+ year old memory. My stream of consciousness went like this…jewish, houston, sam, young judea, drummer, gedi duroe, rock-n-roll high school…(I best stop there). Indeed, it was Sam, the drummer in the band from my high school days. No, no…I wasn’t in the band. I just dated the lead singer/lead guitar.
Sam and I swapped stories and email addresses and by the end of the weekend, we had reconnected with many more of the old crew. Becca, David, Rhonda, Nikie, Norman, Roberta, Bryan!!!…and still looking for Bryan and wondering if Glenn ever reads his email.
And who do I have to thank for this stroll down memory lane…well, I personally blame Lindsey’s post the other day…about the lost art of meaningful eye contact. Thanks Linds for yet another great gift!
You are quite welcome. And hey, did you know that Nikie and I are cousins?!!
Get out…you are not! That is too cool! Geez…does this mean I’ve partied with you in high school and just can’t remember?
Yeah, Nikie’s grandmother, Tillie was a Smolensky. We’re fourth-ish cousins. Just shows you how small the world really is.
I doubt you and I ever partied before meeting through Rhonda, but If I ever find photographic evidence you’ll be the first to know.
Glenda – this is so cool, it is great catching up with everyone; thanks for bringing us all back together. I can’t believe it has been 26 years since we all first met (when we moved into the townhomes…). Time does fly, doesn’t it?
Glenny, it’s nice to know we’re all still connected. And while I may be the (good or bad?) adviser on your shoulder, it’s your intellect that’s profoundly affected me. I always want to be as smart as you.