Tuesday, October 17, 2006
#1
Since Jenn tagged me for the 8 things about me, I'll play along. There might not be 8 things, because so much has been covered already. Don't mind the repeats. Instead of writing a list in one blog, I'm going to do one blog per item. How boring for you!
In grade 4 I had a best friend named Therese. She had dark wavy hair, darker skin, some excema, was of French descent. Our dads were in the armed forces, and we lived in Medley Alberta, near Cold Lake. Oh by the way, Scott also lived there, but a few years after I left. His grade 7 friend Brent is also a friend of mine. I met Brent a few years ago. 'Small world' hey?
I remember walking to Therese's place across a few streets on the base. I remember her house and her brother and his record collection that was filed in one of those brass coloured metal multi-slot holders. Do you remember those?
At the end of grade 4 my dad's 20 years of service was over, and he opted out rather than staying extra time. I got Therese's address so we could write. I couldn't give her mine, because I didn't know it yet. We left immediately after school was out. That was my first memory of staying in a hotel and flying. I puked on the plane. I was wearing my green palazzo pants. Okay, maybe it was green suit pants. The palazzo ones make a better side story though.
I think my mother was tired of having me around when she made them, because they were death waiting to happen. Every time I walked they would wrap around the opposite leg so that I either walked like a geisha or tripped. Imagine trying to run/hobble to school like that!
This is a long story hey?
I missed Therese so much that I didn't like to think about it. I didn't write her because I thought it would have made me miss her more. So, I just didn't do anything. I remember sitting in grade 6 drama thinking about her, wishing we were still friends.
When I was 21 I tried to find Therese via a name search system and later the internet. I don't really know what that would have done, because we might be so different and then the memory could become jaded. Nostalgia and curiosity I guess. I don't think I really want to find her. I like the image I have in my mind of when we were 10.
If this were Aesops Tale, it would have a moral. And it does. I have learned from Therese that what is surpressed later comes back as more of a problem. If I had been in touch and the relationship slowly declined through natural curcumstances I wouldn't always wonder. I wouldn't idealize it so much. But I don't mind idealizing it, because some childhood memories should be left that way. I have learned though that those things which I don't "deal with" come back to haunt me. Feelings that aren't resolved burn into the soul more than I want them to. Not at that moment perhaps, but years later they surface quickly and surprise. I know that it's best to have dealt with it before that, no matter how it hurts at the time. Surpressing doesn't mean eliminating.
As a reminder of my friend and of my lesson, I keep this. I've thought of letting it go, but don't know that I want to. It has taught me much.
Besides, maybe it will remind me to pray for her.
In grade 4 I had a best friend named Therese. She had dark wavy hair, darker skin, some excema, was of French descent. Our dads were in the armed forces, and we lived in Medley Alberta, near Cold Lake. Oh by the way, Scott also lived there, but a few years after I left. His grade 7 friend Brent is also a friend of mine. I met Brent a few years ago. 'Small world' hey?
I remember walking to Therese's place across a few streets on the base. I remember her house and her brother and his record collection that was filed in one of those brass coloured metal multi-slot holders. Do you remember those?
At the end of grade 4 my dad's 20 years of service was over, and he opted out rather than staying extra time. I got Therese's address so we could write. I couldn't give her mine, because I didn't know it yet. We left immediately after school was out. That was my first memory of staying in a hotel and flying. I puked on the plane. I was wearing my green palazzo pants. Okay, maybe it was green suit pants. The palazzo ones make a better side story though.
I think my mother was tired of having me around when she made them, because they were death waiting to happen. Every time I walked they would wrap around the opposite leg so that I either walked like a geisha or tripped. Imagine trying to run/hobble to school like that!
This is a long story hey?
I missed Therese so much that I didn't like to think about it. I didn't write her because I thought it would have made me miss her more. So, I just didn't do anything. I remember sitting in grade 6 drama thinking about her, wishing we were still friends.
When I was 21 I tried to find Therese via a name search system and later the internet. I don't really know what that would have done, because we might be so different and then the memory could become jaded. Nostalgia and curiosity I guess. I don't think I really want to find her. I like the image I have in my mind of when we were 10.
If this were Aesops Tale, it would have a moral. And it does. I have learned from Therese that what is surpressed later comes back as more of a problem. If I had been in touch and the relationship slowly declined through natural curcumstances I wouldn't always wonder. I wouldn't idealize it so much. But I don't mind idealizing it, because some childhood memories should be left that way. I have learned though that those things which I don't "deal with" come back to haunt me. Feelings that aren't resolved burn into the soul more than I want them to. Not at that moment perhaps, but years later they surface quickly and surprise. I know that it's best to have dealt with it before that, no matter how it hurts at the time. Surpressing doesn't mean eliminating.
As a reminder of my friend and of my lesson, I keep this. I've thought of letting it go, but don't know that I want to. It has taught me much.
Besides, maybe it will remind me to pray for her.