The Threads of a Friendship…..

When our son was born we were just out of college and living in Evanston, Illinois. My mom lived about 15 miles away and was very helpful, but I wanted to be "independent" and do it (the mothering thing) my way!

As I remember it we had two baby books - one by Dr. Spock and one other that I forget. Dave and I wore those books to shreds as we looked at our little son and then read (again!) the definition of diarrhea! Happily for us, in addition to the two books and my mom, we had some very experienced parents living in the apartment below us. Lee and Emily had two little ones so she was my go-to-person. Plus we enjoyed each other's company! They were just a few years older and happy to welcome us into their social circle. Many fun evenings were spent together with babies sleeping in the middle of a large double bed and the adults sharing popcorn and beer and a movie on TV in the living room. We shared the young couples' budget.

Emily and I started a little "business" making "Emma-Linn Tote 'ems" - reversible tote bags that we sold at a few area stores. I know we sold enough so that I could buy a stroller for our then one-year-old son.

Then career opportunities for both husbands took them to California and us to New Jersey. Over the next forty years I think we saw them three or four times. Once in California, once Emily traveled to Delaware for business and stayed with us, and then after retiring the moved to Nashville and we went to see them again. The conversation picked up and the laughter and memories filled the room.

On our most recent RV expedition, we stopped to meet them for lunch in Franklin, Tennessee on our way home. It was a quick visit - but again, such fun.

Hugging Emily and Lee goodbye I spend the next few days sort of thinking about our friendship and just how much Em and I had in common. We both sold real estate for many years, we both quilt, we both are in book clubs, etc. etc. etc. I know that we have so many things in common that we would have had a terrific every-day friendship, if only we'd continued to live close enough to see each other frequently. But that didn't happen.

So it's nice to know that the connection that began in Evanston, Illinois in 1969 is still there…..only now they are moving to Florida and we are here in Wisconsin. The heartstrings will stretch….and maybe we'll visit them next winter! :-)