Long, long ago when I was in high school, my dear friend Sally and I went to different schools together! She was a Kewpie from Hickman High in Columbia while I was a Fulton Hornet but we still managed to keep in touch almost daily thanks to the US Postal Service and Ma Bell. Hard to believe, but there really were days before email, text messages and cell phones!
Back in those good ole days, we always got out of school for a 4-day weekend in early November so our teachers could attend a state convention – and Sally and I would take turns visiting each other. We can’t remember the exact origins of November 2nd but suffice it to say that for some apparent reason, we chose this date as our Friendship Day. I even have an engraved disc on my silver charm bracelet that says “Nov 2nd 60-62″.
Within a few years we were room-mates and sorority sisters at Drury University but still we celebrated November 2nd with cards and acting like we were quite special – which of course, we thought we were. Still do! In the years since we have stood up for each other at our first weddings and served as godmothers to each others first-born kids. I was the first to become single again and served as a mentor to her while she went through her divorce.
Sally lives in St. Louis with her high school honey, John, and is a super-star elementary school teacher – one of those educators who absolutely loves the kids and all their challenges and simply thrives on what she does. We don’t see each other often and yet we have the ability to pick up right where we left off and continue to annoy everyone around us while we amuse ourselves.
When I didn’t get a card from Sally in the mail yesterday I knew she was either on overload or the mail was running behind. Sure ’nuff she called today and I found out she just got out of the hospital with pneumonia. She still was coughing up a lung but assured me she can’t wait to get back to school tomorrow and misses all the kids. Yep, she’s one crazy, dedicated teacher and those kids had better realize how lucky they are to have her!
So here’s to you, Sally – from our pre-puberty days at Girl Scout Camp Pin Oak to the rapidly-approaching days of Medicare, we’ve had a wonderful enduring friendship. Happy November 2nd to you, my D&B (Dearest and Bestest).
Friendship Day, I love it!