Friends

”Reconnection”

~ Elizabeth ~ 27 Comments

I made a very close friend in high school who continued to be an important person in my life through our 30’s. Because of issues in my own life I stopped communicating with her in my early 40’s with no adequate explanation to her. I grieved that situation but had no idea how to repair it.

My 16 year old granddaughter asked me about my high school friends. When I told her about this she encouraged me to write and reconnect. Even though 30 odd years had passed, I thought she had a point. So I wrote a letter as a combination explanation and deep apology. I had no idea if anything would come of it

To my deep joy, my friend wrote back and forgave me and wanted to connect again. After an exchange of letters(real ones, not emails) we decided to speak on the telephone. We have now had two one hour catching up talks and plan many more. There is no substitute for a friend who knew each others’ parents, siblings, ex-husbands, present husbands, jobs, loves and heartaches. It turns out that we can build on that solid foundation and learn about the subsequent years we were apart.

I owe my granddaughter deep gratitude. And she was thrilled to know that she was able to give excellent advice to her grandmother for a change instead of the other way around!

Gym Friends

~ Elizabeth ~ Leave a comment

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When I was little, all the kids in the neighborhood were boys, so boys were my playmates. Now that I am going to the gym twice a week for training in strength and balance, I am surrounded by a diverse assortment of other friends. This morning I looked around at us all doing different routines–some on big balls, some heaving little balls into the wall, one man bending forward with a stick behind him to keep his spine aligned, one young man jumping up and off a stool–and realized we all looked crazy! I remarked to the young woman next to me that if someone walked in they would think we were nuts.

It’s great to have friends around me when I go to the gym. These aren’t close friends, more like acquaintances, but we encourage each other in our progress, whether fast or slow. The age range is wonderful from 18 to 86 among the people I interact with. Most of us are working programs to strengthen our muscles. Right now no one is obsessed with losing weight, which makes it a very comfortable atmosphere for the wide range of bodies going through their exercises.

I have stopped comparing myself to anyone else at the gym. I have come instead to truly appreciate the people who are committed to their health, as am I. Most of us have torn this or that and have to baby this or that. But we work around whatever body part is protesting any given week and keep coming.

Sometimes when I am there, I remember playing with Dude, Skipper, Jack and Jim in the early 1950’s. I was active and happy to be climbing, swinging, and running. It is wonderful to have some of that joy returning these many years later in my local gym.