Seeing Georgia’s name on my email took me back immediately to the fun we had as kids. Georgia always made me laugh. Full of the dickens, she was, commenting with dry wit on ordinary things and giving everyone a different perspective.
But the email didn’t come from Georgia — it came from a funeral home memory website, sent out to many of her friends from a lifetime ago. From childhood.
No! I thought. Not Georgia! I never got to know her as an adult!
As I read through the comments in Georgia’s memory website and recognized nearly all the names from school days, I shed some tears for her and her family, but also for me, that I’d missed out knowing her as an adult. That I’d missed knowing most of them…
Our friends — made over a lifetime — are like the snowflakes that fell today in Northern Ohio. All come with a unique design. Some melt and disappear almost instantly on making contact. Some gather and build, cling to each other on the tree branches, sparkle in the sunshine, and make our world pretty while the seasons allow.
Yet the seasons close, and so do so many of our friendships.
I still see Georgia as we were back then… I see her ornery grin… and chuckle at her quiet wit…
Maybe I knew her well enough, I think.
We never really put our friends away — even though we may not see them again in this life. Each has helped us become who we are, and we have helped them.
For that I have no regrets — only gratitude.
How do you think of your friends from the past? Do you believe the poet who wrote friends are for a reason, a season, or a lifetime? Do you have regrets, or do you, like me, rationalize and find the positive in all your relationships?
Have some coffee… enjoy the coming year with all its promise. Whenever it begins for you. 
Barb
P.S. I painted the snowflake in Painter X using a script provided by David Gell, painter, teacher, friend to many… Thank you David.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I have moved so many times in life that I only have one friend from childhood that I still talk to and we live at different ends of the country. I always envy the women who still hang out with friends from high school or elementary school.
Like you, I have experienced the death of childhood friends who I never knew as adults and it is a very strange feeling and one that I’m glad you reminded me to think about a little more.
Barb,
I have a friend from grade school and high school, we were in each other’s weddings, had children about the same time. Soon both families moved and it was only Christmas cards. In 2000 I bought a house in the town where she lives. It took me a year to get up my courage to call her. What a wasted year. Now we are buddies again. Could have been a loss if I had let it be one.
Oh yes, those lost friendships from childhood. How I wish I had the stamina and the motivation to really keep up with all of them, but people do change, and I regret not knowing only a few as adults.
Let’s try again…lol…internet went down last time. Anyway, your sweet memories reminded me of my best friend from high school. Georgia graduated a year before me and went off to marry in Utah, so I never saw her again. The sweet memories outweigh the loss, just as in your memory…thanks for rekindling them for me;O)
I have had a few friends lost too. But I do have a couple who still keep in touch with me. Mostly I have found people to be there for a season in my life and I often wonder how you do that lifetime thing.
Anita
I am still in touch with junior high and high school friends on a regular basis but some of those elementary school friends I didn’t stay in touch with… I think about them more and more … maybe it’s age.
I so appreciate the comments here… they prove to me the diversity with which each of us treasures our friendships.
Beth, I do often envy those who have friends from childhood. My longest friendship — ongoing — is from 45 years ago. We still live in the same community.
Carol, I relate to your being embarrassed to call after so long a time. I once said to a gal at a reunion — Wow, it’s been soooo long! To which she replied — It’s not my fault. I come to the reunions. Ouch
You and your buddy were wise to reconnect.
Good point, Sonya! It does take time and stamina… and you’re so right about change. Maybe that’s why it’s good to accept the seasonal friendship and just be grateful for it.
I’m right with you, Anita — we relate on several levels.
Helen, you are one of those I envy. God bless your lifetime friendships… I think age does factor in remembering what (and who) we may have forgotten over time.