Friends Since Seventh Grade
A girl leaving the throes of sixth grade rebellion walked shyly into a new school. Her bright pink, polka-dot dress blazed among navy blue uniforms. Within days, her wardrobe consisted of the same polyester pleated skirt and long vest buckled with gold links.
Out of the camouflage, a treasure emerged. A friendship forged. Two girls drawn together attempting to stand out in a crowd of blue, all the while wanting to fit in.
They discussed theology. They screamed at Steve Camp concerts. They talked until one fell asleep at slumber parties. They read while swinging side by side during recess.
Eventually, life separated them. Julie went away to college. Renae stayed in Idaho crying. Phone calls lasted for hours and ended with prayer. They still do.
Today, Julie lives with her husband and two little boys across the ocean. She returns to America only once every three years. I plot how to see her. When her feet touch this continent, I have to figure out a way.
Then nonchalantly, she mentioned something about Texas or borrowing our car. January was the promise! Our hearts remain connected, but nothing can replace a hug, a smile, a sigh.
For two weeks, we just spent time living life together. We cooked and cleaned. We played with the kids. We talked in snippets between diapers and dinner. We cried remembering…And when time pressed good-byes, we squinted through tears imagining our children grown and our destinies fulfilled.
We are separate, yet still together: the mystery of life-long friendship. A blessing I don’t take for granted.
Wonderful; friendship, especially the life-long kind, is such a gift! ?
Friends like this are such a rare treasure!
Glad you all had a good time together during the visit.
Friendship is definitely the stuff life is made of. So glad you had that time. Those are the times I think Mary would also have pondered in her heart.
I can’t believe how you two have not aged!! Only the hair has changed. Now I want a post revealing your beauty secrets. :)
That’s so cool. I have one good friend from high school with whom I’ve kept in touch over the years, although sadly, we hardly ever see each other any more. And we live in the same town. Life changes, gets busy, different stages, and we barely see each other once a year . . . or less. Kind of sad. Guess I need to call her. :D
Jamie,
It is. My parents scrimped to send me to a private school for three years. Julie’s friendship is more than worth every penny.
Karen,
Yes, our friendship is a gift from God. We’ve been through so much together. She’s like a sister to me in the truest sense.
Anna-Marie,
You are sweet. I have no secrets. Julie eats extremely healthy, but I only try. Perhaps you just see the glow of pure joy. :D
And I am so thankful the hair has changed! I’m thinking it’s a good thing my glasses were broken. They were enormous. (I wore them in my wedding pictures. Why didn’t someone tell me I’d regret that?)
Dianne,
We all go through different stages of life.
I’m amazed that Julie and I are still so close. For quite a few years we rarely visited, and we didn’t even have email. :P I’m so thankful for technology that makes it possible for us to share pictures and chat.
I hope you have a wonderful visit with your friend soon! :D
Nothing, I suspect, is more astonishing in any man’s life than to discovery that there do exist people very, very like myself. ~ CS Lewis, Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life.
I am glad you two found each other.
And, Julie is such a beautiful name! ;)
Renae,
Your friendship is such a treasure to me! Thanks for writing so eloquently about our recent visit. I love you, sister!
Julie
That story was precious. My “forever Friend” lives over 2000 miles away from me. We have only seen each other 3 times in 23 years, but she is my one true friend. That friend that you can tell absolutely anything to. Their worth is far above rubies. Thanks for reminding of her today.
I have several friends like this – growing up in such a small town makes it easier I suppose. Out of a graduating class of 18, 12 of us had been together since Kindergarten. I am still close to several schoolmates and these friendships are wonderful blessings!
I am so glad that you got to spend so much precious time with your friend and her children!
Renae,
I’m still new to your blog and I don’t know how old you both are, but there is not much that has changed between those two pictures! (except maybe the babies!) :-)
Thanks for sharing your special visit!
What a lovely post. Both of you are blessed to have such a nice friend :)
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