the power of words... again

I wrote the following post back in February, 2002 -  and was reminded of it recently when I spent some time in New Orleans with an old friend. It's amazing how the years apart make no difference and one can pick up right where they left off with some people. It's probably not always the case, but in this instance it is. This was my post back then.

The Power of Words

Not too long ago, I began to receive letters from an old friend that I hadn't seen in 15 - 20 years. She wrote me not knowing if her letter would reach me, but hoped that it would. It did. 

We roomed together for a bit at LSU in Baton Rouge and became friends. Somewhere along the road of life we both graduated, married, worked, raised families, and lost touch.

But her letters have brought back memories long forgotten and a time when life was so different and carefree. Even if the times weren't easy, the pace of life was. We were in college in the 60's. It was great fun. 

Well, perhaps not always great fun. There was Vietnam. And even though life on the campus went on, friends were conspicuous by their absence. 

But back to these letters. She's written 3 so far and I've replied -  filling in the gaps between then and now as best we can. She says, "Can you believe we're old?" or something to that effect... and I have to laugh.

She sent me a picture of her "old"... and I did the same. She looks great! Isn't it amazing how you can see an old friend and honestly say, "You've hardly changed!". It can't possibly be true - must be a trick of the eyes. Perhaps when you hold the picture of a person young in your heart, that's all you ever see...??? (certainly must be what happens when old farts like DH and myself look at each other - we see past the old and into the person we've always known...?? Sounds good?)

Anyway, her letters remind me of the awesome power of thoughts and words... to take you back, to keep you here, or to bring you anywhere."


It's now May 2016 - almost another 15 years later and now instead of writing letters - we email. But we continue to keep in touch - and meet in New Orleans when the opportunity arises.  And I'm ever so glad that her original letter in 2002 found me.

The funny thing is that my old friend from college years is so different from my dear old friend from Texas who drove with me to New Orleans this last trip. Yet... we all got along great and enjoyed ourselves very much! My Texas friend says that my old college friend is a bit crazy - and she is! She's wonderfully crazy and keeps me laughing. I adore the difference in our personalities. 

Do you have serious or crazy friends - or perhaps a combination of the above?  It's funny, but I think being a little eccentric makes people much more interesting. (One of my sons once told me that I was eccentric because I love rocks... and I do!)