I ran into her at an in-service, and we hugged and chatted
happily about our kids and all that was going on in our lives. She was still as beautiful and as
vivacious that day as she was thirty years ago in high school. She was several years behind me in high school, and because our high school was so small it was fairly easy to know almost everyone that you passed in
the halls.
As we were laughing about a story the principal of the
particular building walked by. She
looked at us and laughed, “My
goodness, Vodka, do you know EVERYONE in this school district?”
“You’re not gonna believe this,” my friend Jeannie said,
“but we were friends in high school!”
“We were practically best friends!” I added with a laugh.
After a few pleasantries the principal walked away and
Jeannie turned and looked at me.
“Best friends? I’m pretty sure you hated me! Especially after that time
you saw me talking to Tightwad!”
“Yeah, well, if I had known then…” and then I shooed that particular thought away. “It’s funny how blind we are when we’re
young, isn’t it?”
I’ve been thinking about that conversation, and about how
the memories of our youth and those who inhabited it change and become
smoother and more beautiful over the years. Those memories are kind of like sea glass rolling around the
ocean. They enter the turbulent
waters and swirl, turn and crash against one obstacle or another. And then, after they are sufficiently
beaten up by the sands of time, they are carried gently to shore looking remarkably
smooth and beautiful.
We lost an old high school friend yesterday, and I was
painfully thrust back in time. He
was a talented wrestler and a quiet, sweet boy who was always smiling. He was the boy I went to the 8th grade dance with, and might have been the first one to hold my hand. He married, after high school, an equally sweet girl who
coincidently was also always smiling and laughing. She was a majorette with the band, and managed to make that uniform look good. (Which ain't easy with those crazy boots.) According to all of those who knew them they were just as much in love
today as they were over 35 years ago when they married. They were vacationing at the beach when
he suffered a massive heart attack.
While I’m familiar with losing a father in this manner, I
can’t quite wrap my heart around the fact that this lovely woman (who I still picture
as a 16 year-old majorette...) has suffered the same heartache and tragedy as my mother. I weep for her and her family, and pray that the road ahead is tempered with love and support.
While I can’t decide what the beginning and middle of this
story have to do with each other, I sure know what the ending is.
We may begin our journey from youth to adulthood in a sea of
varying emotion; excitement, anticipation, friendship, jealously, anger,
frustration, hope and love.
But we all seem to come together when we realize how very fragile and
short this life really is.
I see Jeannie, Elaine, Sharon, Betsy, Donna, Annette, Eva, Tami, and so many
other faces of my youth and the only thing my heart remembers is happiness; that
innocent, wonderful, incredible happiness that can only be found in the
fleeting moments of youth. And then that happiness is jolted with the stark reality of death.
May you rest in peace, Jim.
9 comments:
Too much sad news coming out of our little hometown lately. It is indeed a reminder of how fragile life is and a wake up call to make the most of every moment!
Carol
I'm sorry. Life IS to damn short.
Dammit. I meant "too"
Beautifully written Debbie. It is so sad hearing of a classmate passing away. It seems like so many are leaving us. Jim will be missed by so many.
This brought tears to my eyes this morning. Beautiful words Vodka.
I can't imagine such a loss....my heart arches! Life is short and everyday is a gift. Have a wonderful weekend.
Balance your spiritual energy and get in harmony with your soul by practicing these Radha-Krishna meditations.
Sri Gita Govinda
-A book written in the 12th century, this is a description of the intimate loving affairs of Radha and Krishna
http://www.mediafire.com/view/keqr4lqp7wr1rru/Sri_Gita_Govinda.pdf
Govinda Lilamrta
-An 400 year old book which poetically describes the eternal daily pastimes of Radha and Krishna
http://www.mediafire.com/view/uhcuigauc6uqiei/Govinda_Lilamrita.pdf
Ananda Vrindavan Campu
-This is probably the most poetic and intimate portrayal of Sri Krsna’s life in Vrndavana that has ever been written.
http://www.mediafire.com/view/k9j3ldwbt17be3b/Ananda_Vmdavana_Campu.pdf
Prayers of Service to Radha and Krishna (Sankalpa Kalpadruma)
http://www.mediafire.com/view/lvkqsro3sbzm249/Visvanath_Cakravarti_Thakur_Sankalpa_Kalpadruma.pdf
Prema Samputa The Treasure Chest of Love
http://www.mediafire.com/view/mpbncdyt97nw0x7/Prema_Samputa_The_Treasure_Chest_of_Love.pdf
And the following four are taken from Visvanath Cakravarti's Camatkara Candrika, a 300 year old scripture that talks about the love meeting of Radha and Krishna:
The Meeting in the Box
http://www.mediafire.com/view/c81a7cp43n5v6aj/The_Meeting_in_the_Box.pdf
The Meeting of Sri Krishna Disguised as a Female Doctor
http://www.mediafire.com/view/hgomrnem7829pda/The_Meeting_of_Sri_Krsna_Disguised_as_a_Female_Doctor.pdf
The Meeting of Sri Krishna Disguised as a Female Singer
http://www.mediafire.com/view/gyuboduhn8dvdml/The_Meeting_of_Sri_Krsna_Disguised_as_a_Female_Singer.pdf
The Meeting of Sri Krishna Disguised as Abhimanyu
http://www.mediafire.com/view/911h9qoxn4ca027/The_Meeting_of_Sri_Krsna_Disguised_As_Abhimanyu.pdf
And lastly, we have the supreme scripture which describes the 24 hour daily loving affairs of Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan, called Bhavanasara Sangraha. This book is now available on Amazon for Kindle, for only $3.49
http://www.amazon.com/Bhavanasara-Sangraha-Mahanidhi-Swami-ebook/dp/B00CW9H4DI/ref=la_B00J2M5LAQ_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402209195&sr=1-15
Here is a 41 page sample of Bhavanasara Sangraha:
http://www.mediafire.com/view/t4gsse2d4sw0f8p/Sample_of_Bhavanasara_Sangraha.pdf
The above book can also be read on your PC using Amazon Kindle for PC, download here for free:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311
I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. What a shocking and difficult time for his wife and all who knew him. Whether you have months to day goodbye or a loved one is gone in an instant, the finality is the same. And when it comes at too damn young, it is particularly painful. Hugs for all.
Your sea glass analogy is beautiful and so true.
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