Sunday night I got a phone call from one of my oldest friends from my Springfield, MA youth.
She befriended me at a time in my life I needed a lifetime friend. She introduced me to her family, he dad the shop keeper in downtown Springfield, her twin younger brother and sister, and her middle sister who was turning into a teenagers and loved her rock and rolls records. Her mom was a warn women who was quiet mostly. At times, when wisdom was needed, she would say a few words, that would heal the universe in my heart.
We have keep in touch from our sixth grade meeting , to my many moves over the years.
She never judged me. We were equals and we were both watched the other grown into nice adults.
She called to tell me that my old neighbor and friend Karen had passed away over the weekend in hospice. Her breast cancer had come back after all these years. Karen was a sweet kid. Her mother was our crazy Girl Scout Leader. Faye was always up for camping trips, or baking a birthday cake for Springfield's mayor. Faye was also my mothers best friend. The two were like young teenagers who, could signal each others by raising up their the blinds of their homes. There was a house in between these ladies. The all clear sign in our house was when mom, raised the blinds in our dinning room. Minutes after the blind went up, Faye appeared at our back door with her cigarettes' and cofree. They would spend time in our kitchen laughing and telling stories, and their laughter lite up of home.
For Karen and I, there came a time when she developed into a teenagers way before I did. Mom had a heart to heart talk to me that this is the way life, true friends will come into your life at different times and that was alright. They will always be your friend. So true. Both Lynne and Karen, reconnected with me and it was wonderful.
Lynne was always a great talker my dad would say. He knew that I was a quiet soul.
After she told my of Karen's passing, she told me about her breast cancer and how the two of them had become very close during Zoom Covid Cancer Talks.
Karen and I shared our love of photography and nature on Facebook. We talked of visiting each other but never did.
My hear broke when Faye passed away in her 90s. My heart is broken that a part of my youth is now gone.
Life goes on and I have have Faye and Karen thank for my love of nature and outdoors. I still have Lynne as the wise and understanding older sister that my sister Judy never was or could be with her life long illness.
Friends are gifts from the angels for those of us who need support during the hard times in our lives.
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