Cherished Childhood Friends Provide a Reason to Keep Blogging

our_neighborhood.I got the most unexpected and sweet email message last night from R, a childhood friend.

Some background: R and her family lived in a house across the alley from my family’s house all the years I did, from the age of about two through college.

She’s a year younger than I am and, along with my sister, we played outdoors with the other kids in the neighborhood every day for years. (Those were the good ol’ days when you left the house in the morning and only came back for lunch and dinner.)

R lives in Florida now with her husband — and she and I have written several Facebook messages about our families and what’s new with us. R’s mother, Mrs. S, is 95 and it’s been great to see her photo on R’s Facebook page several times. I’ve forwarded them to my parents.

Mrs. S looks almost exactly the way I remember her from childhood (except for the white hair). She was a real seamstress and I remember going to R’s house and her mom would always be sewing dresses and clothes for the two girls, greeting us with pins in her mouth and her glasses on a chain around her neck. Her mom also canned food in their basement – and since I’d never seen anyone in my family do that, it was always fascinating to go to their house and watch the big production when she was in “canning mode.” Mrs. S also had a very distinctive voice when she answered the phone. I bet if she called me today and just said, “Hello,” I’d recognize her voice!

My favorite memory about R is that we waited at the bus stop together all our years of school, and when we were in elementary school, as soon as the bus appeared in the distance, Robin would yell out a little song, “Here COMES the B…U…S!!” Sometimes other people would chime in.

This past summer, R and her sister drove Mrs. S to visit my parents (who also live in Florida, about two hours away), and they had a wonderful time catching up and reminiscing.

Back to the present: In her message, R said that her mom was interested when she told her she saw on Facebook that I started writing a blog with personal stories and posting links to them. (I have no idea which of my Facebook friends read my blog unless they tell me about it or write a comment on the page.) And her mom said, “Is that the girl who got her head stuck in our porch railing?” (Yes…it was…but that’s a whole other blog post…. I did more than my share of dumb things as a kid and remember that experience vividly all these years later (although I can’t remember how they got me out) — but I couldn’t believe her mom remembered, too!)

R started reading the blog posts to her mom – who has low vision – every day. Her mom asked R to write me and say she really enjoys my stories – especially the one about my sister and the mysterious visitor, and the bad date tales! – and to tell me I was “a genius.” They got behind reading the posts while Mrs. S visited her son for a few weeks, but have caught up now.

I’ve been smiling all day today thinking about how nice it was to get that message! And I’m glad that my blog posts entertain Mrs. S – who I have such fond memories of.

It also motivated me to “keep on bloggin’!”

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14 Responses to Cherished Childhood Friends Provide a Reason to Keep Blogging

  1. Robin says:

    What a surprise to read your blog today and realize that you wrote about my Mom & I! You amaze me with what you remember about your childhood and the great details! My mom got a kick out of your description of her with her mouthful of pins and her glasses hanging from her neck! You do know that I did not like her making all my clothes – I wanted to shop at Stone & Thomas and The Hub like everyone else!! She continued to sew clothes for my girls and herself through her 80’s up till she lost much of her sight. Was I really the first to break out in song when the bus came? I do remember singing that song though! I also remember us going round and round on a merry-go-round and singing songs in our back yard. Those sure were the good ole days! Please keep up the good work on your blogs as we will be watching for them every day!

    • Thanks so much for commenting! I hoped you and your mom would like it and wouldn’t be upset about anything I said (and I disguised your names!) Will probably write a separate blog post in the future about the head-stuck-in-the-railing incident, too. I’ve been thinking about that and laughing to myself all day.

  2. Tina says:

    That is so lovely that you can share your memories with others!

  3. blainecindy says:

    Isn’t it wonderful when you find out that your blog entries mean something to someone? I know that it makes me feel great. I’m so glad that you’ve found meaning in your writing. Keep on blogging!

  4. Jen says:

    How sweet! I love when blogging motivation comes out of nowhere. I love that she reads all your stories.

  5. It’s always nice to know people appreciate what you write

  6. Jen T says:

    Just goes to show you never know who your blog is going to affect. 🙂

  7. inNateJames says:

    ^ What Jen T said. I have been very surprised since starting my blog at who my biggest cheerleaders are!

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  9. Tshanina says:

    It’s often the small things that make the biggest difference isn’t it?

    I’m so glad you’ve found blogging inspiration from your friends!

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