Thursday, July 25, 2013

When I Think of Mary

Her name was Mary.

I met her when I was about to get into our car, which was parked on the street beside her house. She was getting her mail.
I smiled and said, “Hi,” and Mary replied with her own smiling “Hi.”
We began to talk more each time our paths crossed until one day, she invited me in for lemonade. It was summertime. Hot. Humid. And I was pregnant. I already had a two year old son and Mary had a son – eighteen months old. We had a lot in common.
We soon became good friends. Some afternoons, she came to my house and our boys played while we had something to drink and conversation. Or I went to hers and we did the same. Every so often, in the evening, when our husbands were home, the four of us got together and talked, enjoyed a snack and watched a little TV while the boys played.
It was a nice relationship.
In August, when I went to the hospital to have my baby, Mary came to visit me. She brought me a beautiful yellow rose. Nurses thought we were sisters. They said we looked alike. I took that as a compliment.
Mary was very pretty! She had dark, curly, shoulder length hair, fair skin and sky blue eyes. Her ready smile exposed perfect white teeth. And she was as sweet as she was pretty! I couldn’t find one thing wrong with her.
I hoped we’d always be friends, but it wasn’t to be.
One day, out of the blue, she broke the news that her husband, Ben, had been transferred. They had to move away.
That was a sad day! We both shed a few tears. I’d never had a friend quite like Mary. It’s hard to explain our friendship. Although it was short, it was different. Reliable.
After they were gone, we wrote letters (this was before the days of e-mail and unlimited phone service), sent Christmas cards and birthday cards for a few years – and then we started receiving and sending them further and further apart until we slowly lost touch altogether.
When I think of Mary, I remember this familiar quote: 
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.” 
                                                                         ~Anonymous    
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11 comments:

Jane said...

I think we've all had a friend like Mary at some time in our life. Nice story Peg.

Paula said...

Love this story about your friendship with Mary. I think we have only one or two really good friendships in our lives. Sounds like this was one of yours. To bad it couldn't last forever.

Anonymous said...

Lovely how the two of you hit it off right from the beginning. Sorry it was over so soon.

sam said...

great peg as always. sam

Sarah said...

Some of your stories grab the heart and twist it Peggy. You seem to have a talent for doing that. I love this story!

Anonymous said...

Yes . . . never ever the same. What a depth of experience you've had in your life. Your beautiful stories seem without end.

Hugh

Barbara said...

This struck a cord with me, because I was usually the friend whose husband got transferred. Over all the years we moved around I still remain friends with a few people that were meant to stay. Great memories never fade.
b

Peggy~ said...

Thanks for commenting, Barbara! It seems we're opposites. I was always the one who got left behind. My lifelong friend and I were separated in our twenties by her husband's transfer. However, we've not only stayed in touch, but stayed as close as sisters for about five decades! With today's technology, it's not difficult. But I never found Mary again! I've been reading your blog. Will see you there soon. :)

My Inner Chick said...

--I hope that you and Mary still connect thru Facebook or email. It would be a shame if you didn't' Xx

Peggy~ said...

Nope! Though I've tried, I can't find her anywhere. Saddens me. Thanks, for commenting, Inner Chick.

Tempest Nightingale LeTrope said...

It's sad when people drift apart. It's happened to me so many times that I'm very reluctant to try and forge new friendships.