I remember sitting in the class circle in 4th grade Spanish, trying to imitate the suave, casual way you crossed your legs and chewed thoughtfully on your thumbnail. You were so smart, athletic, and popular, and seemed to be oblivious to all the guys who had crushes on you.
We became friends, connected at first by our love of books and boys. Because of you I discovered Nancy Drew. Because of you I tackled Gone with the Wind in 7th grade - if you could do it, then, gulp, I could do it, too. I was never again afraid of a thick book. Because of you I worked harder in school, determined to make straight A's, just like you.
Christmas caroling parties at your house with hot chocolate afterward; trick-or-treating in our jeans and white "hippie" shirts that shouted PEACE and LOVE in colorful liquid embroidery colors; memorizing sign language and practicing Spanish so we could talk to each other "secretly"; babysitting Julie, reading Dr. Seuss to her, and keeping a butcher knife and a can of bug spray handy in case someone broke into the house; the night Jim Croce died...
...then there was our cigarette phase and friendship with Jan Shelton; our turnaround the next year, carrying our Bibles, and having crushes on the singers in "Hope of Glory"; church choir trips, laughing at Howard and Don; the "Little 6's"; the NAPCO company picnics at Rockin' R Ranch where we met Jose and ...I can't remember his name! Was it Fernando?
...Galveston Beach where we took pictures with all the cute guys we could find; walking all over Deepwater when it snowed; Astroworld over and over and over...
These memories seem like yesterday - we can't really be turning 50 this year, can we? Madeleine L'Engle said..."The great thing about getting older is you don't lose all the other ages you've been." So Patti, my "friend forever," I know that somewhere inside of you the fourteen year old pictured below is still alive and well...
