There are folks who stay in the same town and have the same friends for decades. Our family always moved. My father was the first in his family to go to college. He got his baccalaureate and went on for a master’s and doctorate. There were always opportunities in another state, so we moved. And he had an illustrious career that has continued well into retirement.
Thanks to Classmates (I join every five years for a few weeks) and Facebook (hate/hate relationship) I’ve found a few people and we keep in touch. One from grade school, two each from a different high school, and several from college.
In high school I was shy, but joined sports and captained our gymnastics team for two years. In college I was a wild child for a semester then settled down and made Dean’s List regularly.
Years ago there was a study that people who ran for every student office and club peaked early in life. I didn’t run for several reasons: I didn’t know myself or what I was capable of doing; was shy; and didn’t want to let anyone know I was smart, especially myself.
It took a broken engagement (moi) to find myself through several increasingly responsible jobs. I like to write (is that a surprise?) and have opinions on politics and other things. I will not go to a rodeo because I believe that’s animal cruelty. I was more tenacious fighting for a personal issue with government than as a lobbyist, simply because I was older and wiser and know who I am and what I am capable of achieving.
My husband and I live a very nice life in a lovely part of the country where it’s snowing as I write. We have a future to look forward to, just us and our dog, Zoe The Hipless Wonder.
Sometimes I wonder what the friends I haven’t kept in touch with are doing. We all had dreams. Real life and providing for a family can put dents into those dreams. I don’t have the gift of remembering and being in contact with every person I ever met at school or work. Some of them I want to forget (especially that one boss).
It’s important if you’ve lived everywhere, to keep grounded, which is what I want, a home base when we’re sent overseas. Equally important is if you’ve been the same town your entire life, get out once in a while and drive two hours away. You’re never too old to make a friend, or get a dog (or cat) to keep you company.
We love living here because the same people come back every year and it’s like old home week. This year we had our first July 3 Potluck and 20 neighbors got to see each other without parkas, boots, hats or gloves. I’d like to think we’ll be neighbors and friends with these folks for a long time. Cheers, Dee
Cooking with Dee 