I Wish I Had Never Known Time Dated

Time Dated.

Growing up there were five of us girlfriends. Almost like sisters from other mothers. Much to the dismay of our parents, we talked for hours and hours on the phone. We checked in with one or the other each morning with the words, “what are you wearing?”

We met on the corner of our block and walked to the Tremont Avenue bus, which we rode together to the last stop, where we transferred to the Fordham Road Bus. The Fordham bus stopped in front of our high school.

We made the best of our high school years. We had so much fun. We tried to experience everything high school life offered.

Whenever possible, we would meet in the hallways of our high school to ‘catch’ up.  After all, it had been minutes that we had not seen each other. Mostly we ragged on our teachers or whispered about our latest crush.

We slept at each other’s houses, borrowed each other’s clothes. We taught each other about how to apply makeup. (We of course wanted to look older, more sophisticated. We were teens after all!)

We thought this is the way it would always be for us. Some of us went on to college, some of us married, some of us went to work. I chose all three — college, marriage, work.

We wrote letters, yes letters, do you remember those? On rare occasions we would call, on very rare occasions! Long distance calls were so very expensive, and we were barely awake at eight in the morning, or too exhausted after eight at night to talk on the phone when long-distance calls became less expensive.

Then Ellen died. Five was now four. We were in our early 20’s when she died. Horrible car accident. It was the moment I received the call I discovered the concept of time dated.

Years passed and we grew apart. Geography, family new needs and interests got in the way.  Life got in the way. Although we hung on to each other for many years, time dated took hold.

Each time our family moved (we moved five different times) to a different city, a new state, we experienced new and exciting beginnings to our new life. I met dear friends, we were welcomed into our new communities, and each time we felt we once again belonged. We thrived with every move.

Time dated.

The first move lasted four years, the second two years, the third lasted three years, the fourth move lasted 11 years. I am blessed that I have been able to carry a few of these friends to our fifth move, where we have lived a whopping 44 years.

My family found a community of wonderful friends, opportunities we could not have imagined, a home we love. My children thrive, their children thrive, and life brings us so much for which to be grateful.

My children graduated from UGA and became successful in their chosen fields. They married my son-in-loves (no, this is not an error, I call them my son-in-loves because they are), produced 10 loving cousins, 10 magnificent grandchildren. These four son-in-loves brought their four wonderful loving parents to our family.

Also, during these 44 years, my mom and dad died, my beloved partner, my husband of a lifetime died, my dog died.

Time dated.

A few weeks ago, a dear beloved friend died. A true light unto the world.

Time dated.

I wish I had never known time dated.