history, math and connections

An old friend from high school and her daughter came by for a visit the other day.  High school graduation was 20 years ago in 1991.  I actually met Heidi in grade 7 which was 1985, so we've been friends for 26 years. 

Willow and Ruby saying "Cheese"

Guess what?  She's one of the very few people from my past that I am still connected to. (Ok let's pretend that Facebook doesn't exist.  I'm talking about real friends here.  People you would actually invite into your home for some tea or a glass of wine.)  We only see one another from time to time.... about every 2-3 years, but when we do things just pick right up where they left off.  There's no strangeness or awkwardness at all which is nice or we probably wouldn't torture ourselves with the visits and I would lose that connection from my past. 

It was ten years ago in 2001 that I was living in Whistler and making a life-altering decision about whether to come "home" or stay out West.  One of biggest strikes against the West was lack of connections.  (It certainly wasn't the lifestyle, mountain lakes or climate).

Heidi, Ruby and Willow

After ten whole years of being back "home" I still have a few connections out West but it seems that year after year they tend to slip away, one by one.  It's challenging to keep friendships up over the miles.... people get married.... have kids..... and sometimes life makes being friends with certain people more complicated than it should be.   My strongest connection is with Christine and her husband Dave.  Christine and I met at BCIT in 1998, became fast friends and actually became best friends after I moved back East!  Funny hey?  It took a lot of effort - hours of long distance phone calls, trips from coast to coast, and it was well worth it.  She's amazing. 

And now, I'm thrilled to announce that finally, after 10 years of searching for a best girlfriend on the East Coast, the universe sent me Aimee.  She's my soul sister and guess what?  She's from the West Coast!  Ha!