It's that time of year again...

[nootka]

...a friend of mine who I have known since 1992...He lived with us for a couple of years starting in 1999, and he had lived for a few years prior in New Orleans, knew the area well. He brought to us an appreciation for the region, though none of us have ever been there, and for the food (and drinks) and traditions as well.

Somehow, over this past year or so, we've dropped out of touch. Shane is like a brother to me, we are so much alike in so many ways, and he and I were just comfortable hanging out for hours at a time, just talking and laughing and sharing stories. He and my husband were good friends, as well, and he and my son got along great, also (Shane was originally best friend to my sister's now deceased husband. They both entered the Coast Guard together as high school grads in the early 90s, came out West to get away from KS, and Bernie met and married my sis, Shane met us on one of his trips to meet Bernie. The rest is history and though Bernie has died now 10 years ago, Shane moved up here again to reconnect and it's like having a bit of him back, too).

Started looking up recipes for dirty rice and jambalaya and the like, and started reminiscing about all the fun he and I and we had while we were working around here together. I think this whole thing with losing Craig made me realize a lot more how much life is about the people in it, not the things or the pursuit of them.

And so I will try again to get in touch with Shane and invite him over for a big ol' pot of gumbo and rice, and maybe a Hurricane.

Anyone else have friends they have lost touch with that meant so much to them they can't bear to let it just "go"?

Liz M.

(I just realized his birthday is four days from now, too...)

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Yes, life happens and that old time just keeps flying by. Perhaps I shall also try to reconnect with a lost one. I hope you can get him and hug him and get things back going. Hugs my friend,

 

[LindaL]

Kinda funny this thread came up now....I just did a "zaba search" on 2 old high school friends of mine that I lost touch with about 3-4 yrs ago...I know both have moved back into the area after having moved out of state for a few years, so I am wanting to get back in touch with them! They were my best friends back in school and I miss them! Lots of factors played a part in us losing touch, but the friendship is still there.

Oh and I also called another friend of mine who I hadnt talked to in about a year who lives in CA, but she wasnt home, so I left a message...hope to reconnect with her soon as well.

It feels good to talk to friends who still mean so much to you and you havent heard from in awhile!

BTW Liz....I LOVE Cajun food.....yummmmmmmmmmmm

: :bgrin

 

[mininik]

Yep. I lost touch with a close friend around 8 years ago and I STILL think about her. In fact, I was just trying to find her Online a few days ago with no luck. I wonder what she's up to...

 

[nootka]

Awww, I hope everyone reconnects. In this case, I know where this one lives, and I may go camp out on his doorstep if I have to (he tends to withdraw when he's depressed and I'm also worried about him) to make him understand! He's a stubborn guy, and likes to keep his troubles to himself, even though when he does open up, he's very relieved, but I think that may be a guy trait, too, as most of the guys I care about are that way.

Anyhow, I hope everyone finds those ones they seek. There is something really great about having people around that remember things along with you, and you can laugh about "inside jokes" or say one word and both know immediately what the other is thinking. I thought about how that is gone when Craig has passed away, since not many people that are in my life right now were around when my mother was at her "best/worst" and so he understood a lot of why we would laugh and poke fun at it to cope with it. That kind of companionship is priceless, even though new friends are still exciting and sought, it is these old friends that bring a certain comfort like those old, soft sweat pants or jeans that look like heck but feel like heaven.

One of the best ways to find people is those places that they ask you to pay $7.95 or something for, at least I have had the best results with those in the past for people that have moved a lot (as long as they are "conventional" type people, though not everyone is).

Thanks for listening, and maybe if you get down this way, Linda, we could have some gumbo or dirty rice or somethin' like that. I love me some Cajun food, too, and glad it was introduced to me! We actually have a Cajun restaurant in Seaside, now, and we started going there when it was tiny and new, and they loved us even our crazy Mardi Gras antics, but now we kinda "lower the tone" if you know what I mean. *LOL*

Liz M.

 

[JO~*]

I lost my long time best friend a few years ago, no she didn’t die and yes I still know where she lives.

She met a man and when she did she seemed to have lost all her own identity.

My friend was/is very overweight and never did have a boyfriend, when she was about 40 she met this man that was 20 and pretty good-looking and well built. He was an illegal Mexican. He married her.

My friend has always worked; her boy toy did/does very little. Her boy toy made all the rules and she had bruises on her arms a lot. Her boy toy would come on to her cousin, who wouldn’t tell her because she was afraid her cousin wouldn’t believe her. I wish I would have told her but by the time I knew about it there really was no since in me saying anything.

I have never been one to keep my mouth shut so I told her I was worried about her, well she took it as my not excepting him and I guess I don’t. Anyway I haven’t spoke to her in about 10 years. Not because I disowned her or anything like that, as a matter of fact the last thing I said to her was “when you have time to talk give me a call†and I never did get a call from her yet.

She was a gal I grew up with and loved like a sister as a matter of fact she was my sister in law for 14 years.

She was my riding buddy since I was 11 years old. Just thinking about all this makes me cry.

This may seem far fetched but sometimes I think he drugged her because she got so strange.

I have a few friends but they just aren’t the same as the ones that know your soul. I don’t think I will ever find one of them kinds of friends again.

 

[nootka]

Awww, Jo, that is a sad story indeed and believe it or not, it is kind of similar to what happened to my sister....She has pretty much given up being anyone's friend to be her boyfriend's "slave" so to speak. And noone can say anything b/c she tells him and then he comes over HERE to beat people up, etc. It's like she's brainwashed.

I hope there is still a chance for her, and Jo, you never know where you will find good friends. I have met some right here on this Forum, some that I consider closer and better than family and though we did not grow up together, it is almost like we did, we have so much in common and our childhoods are even similar in some ways.

I only have one good friend from my high school days, the rest have filtered off into the ether, but that's ok, it's quality not quantity that counts.

Liz M.