It is my hope that everyone has special friends in their lives; because, if not, life would be so lonely :-(
I have been very blessed throughout my life to have had so many wonderful and special friends, from my preschool years on into adulthood. Some friends come and some friends go, some left no impression at all while others left their footprints firmly embedded in my heart.
There's an old saying that friends are forever; but in reality, we all know that is not true of each and every friend you meet :-( I am not saddened by that fact because we all have our own lives and go different ways; and things like this just can't be helped.
However, once in a lifetime, if you are real lucky, you may find one special person who is the most loyal, trusting, sincere, caring, and honest person you will ever hope to meet and one you feel like you have known all of your life, one you even share kin ships with, and one with whom there are no holds barred. This person will always be there for you and will always adore you no matter what your faults are! I would like to dedicate this page to my special friend, Ann :-)
Nearly 21 years ago, I was introduced to the world of "pen palling", and never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would meet that special friend; but I did. In December of 1983, I saw Ann's name and address again in a "friendship booklet" -- these were made for one person by another and then passed around from one house across the world to another until it was "full" and then mailed to the person it was made for -- and I decided to go ahead and write to her. As stated I had seen her name before but just never wrote until then. I can't explain why I never wrote before or why I was writing then except that it was meant to be! Little did I know this was the beginning of the most special friendship two people could ever hope for.
Through writing many long letters, we found out that we had so much in common with each other that it was really uncanny. So much of our lives crossed the same paths that it was actually scary. We traded photographs and talked on the phone many times and even traded cassette tapes :-)
More times than not, we knew when something was wrong with the other and would either call or write -- only to find out that our instincts were correct and something was wrong.
One of the times our paths crossed was in the summer of 1989 when we had both written to each other at practically the same day and time to inform each other that we had just had surgery -- mine was actually quite menial (gallbladder) while hers was major and life-threatening :-( However, it was uncanny to say the least. By this time in our relationship, however, we really weren't surprised. Even in just the five and a half short years of writing, we already shared a very long personal history of our lives crossing the same paths -- some good and some bad!
In 1991, I asked Ann to be my new baby's godmother -- there was no one else I wanted for that special task, but I was so scared she would say no :-( You see, here we were way down here in Southwest Louisiana and here she was way up in Long Island, New York; and I worried that the distance may have hampered her acceptance!
Much to my delight, she accepted and said she would be here for the baptism. Whoa, I couldn't believe it :-) I was so happy, but then I got scared -- everything was so fine and great with our letters and phone calls, but I really worried she wouldn't like me in person -- worrier that I am :-) I realized how stupid that was, though. If she liked me through my letters and phone calls, she was bound to like me in person, too, cause my letters and phone calls were "me". There was no doubt in my mind that I would like her just as much as I already did!
As time drew closer, I grew more nervous; but when I saw Ann walk off the plane, all my fears went away. I instantly felt that the special bond we shared would overcome anything and we'd be okay :-) I stayed nervous, though, and all the way home, I talked nonstop while Ann was extremely quiet :-) We laughed about this later on and wondered why either one of us was so nervous at all. Poor Annie, here she was in this new city and coming to meet a bunch of strangers :-) I could surely understand her being nervous about that!
We went out to eat that night, and Annie got to experience "crawfish", which she loved :-) The next day was Amity's christening which was beautiful. I felt so proud to have Ann standing next to me and sharing this with me. We spent the next two days talking, shopping, and sharing. The days passed all too quickly and the time had come for Ann to leave us (on her way to New Orleans for a few days and then back home). It was so hard saying good bye, but I wouldn't trade those memories for nothing :-) I cried so hard on the way home that I couldn't see *grin*
Would you believe I even called her in New Orleans several times before she even got there? I did :-) I don't remember how many times I called to check on her before she left for home, but it was quite a few :-)
In January of 1994, it was through Ann's persuasion that I came to the new world of cyberspace; and I am most grateful! This was heaven! I was completely hooked! And I have been here ever since :-)
Ann came to visit again in April 1994, and she and I took a short trip to New Orleans together -- what a blast that was -- and we finished out the week visiting, shopping, etc. It was super but, once again, went by way to fast. And it seemed harder to say good bye this time :-( The most perfect thing about that visit, though, is the fact that Amity instantly bonded with her Nanny and despite the fact that it has been three years, she knows who Ann is and remembers her Nanny coming to see her :-)
Ann and I spent so much time emailing and chatting on line for the next few months, and I was quite saddened when Ann left the on line world for a while (approximately two years) :-(
Of course we continued to trade snail mail and such, but it seemed so far and few between :-(
Can you imagine how happy I was when I got a letter from her back in December '96 informing me that she was getting an ISP :-) I immediately sent her my e-mail addresses and couldn't wait to hear from her -- and what a wonderful Christmas present I got when she emailed me the first time :-) She immediately downloaded a chat program, so we spend a lot of time talking in real-time :-)
I could easily sit here and recount many, many memories of the past 13 years knowing Ann, but I mainly just wanted to highlight a few things in our history and end with saying that Ann is the sister I have always wanted but never had and that our bond is such a special one, created by fate. I thank God every day for bringing Ann into my life. No matter what cards are dealt to us or where life's often long and winding road brings us, I know Ann is always right here by me and she knows I am always right there by her!
In closing, I want to thank my special friend, Ann, for everything but most of all for being the wonderful person I know -- I wish I was just like her! I'm proud to call you my friend :-) I love ya, Annie :-)
Visit Annie's Place to find out more about her and her beautiful family :-)
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