Judy Conlin
My bestfriend
I grew up in a little village in Pennsylvania and that is where I met my bestfriend. We were practically joined at the hip through all those growing up years, and even though we have since lived far apart, she is still my dear dear friend. We do not always keep in close touch, but
we do remember each other on birthdays and holidays, and we always vow that we are going to
do a better job of contacting each other. On my last birthday we said we were going to call each
other every other month. Three months later her birthday rolled around, and we still hadn’t
called each other. I sent her a small remembrance . I have always called her on her birthday, and
I meant to but at the time I was dealing with so many unfamiliar issues which happen when
there is a death in the family, I never got to it. Yesterday, 2 months after her birthday, I called
her.
Just the sound of her voice filled me with love and nostalgia. I remember the day I met
her. We were about 5 years old. I was twirling around a metal post in front of my grandfather’s
grocery store when this beautiful little girl walked up the sidewalk from her house only 2 doors
away and said hello. We were immediately both twirling and we became inseparable after that.
We either stayed overnight at my house or hers. Our households were very different.
My mother was very strict. Her mother was very lenient. We learned to navigate both
environments with no problems. When we were at her house and her parents were in bed, we’d
get up, turn on the radio in the kitchen and dance to the Grand Old Opry. Her mother would
sometimes rap on the wall for us to be a little quieter but never made us quit.
My house was completely different. My mother would have us in bed before the sun
went down and there was to be no noise coming from our room. We hid flashlights under the
covers and spent hours communicating by making letters and words with our fingers.
In hindsight I often wonder why my friend would want to stay with me, but she did. We alternated homes almost every other night and I can only remember one time we had a quarrel. I have no recollection of what it was about but she packed up and went home. It didn’t last and we were
soon inseparable again.
Her family went to church all the time. Mine did not. My friend rang the church bell. I
helped her. I went to Sunday school, church, choir practice, Prayer meetings, revivals, daily
vacation Bible School, and eventually church camp with her. My mother came to church whenmy friend and I were performing there, cheering us on. .She never missed anything we did.
Somehow it all worked.
My mother would send me to school with pigtails which I hated. My friend’s mother
would take them out and give me curls on the way to school and do the reverse when we
stopped there on the way home. Looking back this now seems deceitful but truly this was two
good mothers who were very opposite in approach but always wanted the best for us girls and we turned out fine.
My mother instilled discipline, following the rules, common sense, being a good citizen
in us always encouraging our friendship, but monitoring our behavior.
In junior high I was #1 in our class, and my friend was #2. In senior high, my friend was
#1 and I was #2. We shared everything.
Growing up we always played school, or hospital. She wanted to be a teacher, and I
I wanted to be a nurse. We both did just that and I got to do both.
As life has gone on, I have made many other friends, who I love and cherish. I wouldn’t
downgrade them for the world. They are what make me happy on a daily basis, but there is
something about that first best friend that can never be duplicated. They are part of you with
memories that cannot ever be erased, and as much of who you are as any strictly inherited
traits.
I was blessed.
I love you, Lenna Beth, and I love your family for their part in my
upbringing.
More later,
Nurse Judy
www.nursejudyinfo.com
