I figured the best way to approach this goal is by identifying the people who have touched my life. I’m not much of a penpal…I’m your ‘out of sight, out of mind’ type of gal…and people come and go…that’s life. I never forget the people who do touch my life though, and, at the very least, I would like to acknowledge them:
1. Fiona Brown – My best friend back in England. I was closer to her than I’ve been to any other woman, ever…we had a lot of good times at Elleray, and some rather prepubescent kinky ones too. She remains the only girl I have ever kissed…though I’m not sure that anything you do before the age of 12 counts in the grand scheme of things. ;)
2. Jamie – I wish I could remember his last name, but he was one of my first best friends as a child…and the first boy I ever wanted to marry. He lived in Windermere, and we went to St. Cuthbert’s together for a while. I remember his big dog – all bark and no bite…and I remember, very fondly, our ‘Thundercats’ reenactments in the playground. He will always be Liono to me, and he has a special place in that part of my heart that still wants to be Cheetara.
3. Francis – again, it’s a miracle I can remember first names, let alone last. Francis and I also went to St. Cuthberts, as I recall…but my memory of him stems from our time together at Breda’s…Breda use to take a lot of kids in this after-school program held at a nearby church. I remember one day, I was maybe 7…I took Francis by the hand and led him into the sparse woods that bordered the church grounds. I sang to him…I doubt he remembers, but I do, and it’s one of my favorite childhood memories…and one of the few times that I’ve sung to anyone alone.
4. Benji – my goodness, Benji and I were together from almost our first moments…and I have so many stories I could tell…so many early early moments that were seared into my heart. This is simply my favorite one: It was a day in Kindergarten…a day in which we were supposed to bring a teddy bear for a ‘teddy bears’ picnic’. I forgot my bear, and I was so upset about it…until Benji came up, held out his teddy bear, and said ‘here, you can have my bear for today.’ If ever love could be bottled into moments…pure love, innocent love…this one deserves a crystal bottle.
5. Rachel Hurst-Dean – Why do I remember the girls’ names but not the boys? Rachel was my very first best friend…we were friends right up until her family moved away when we were about 8. She went to Breda’s also…so did Benji actually…we were all in a play when we were little…I was Mary, Benji was Joseph, Rachel was the angel who stood behind us. When people talk about having friends for life…growing up together in little groups…I often wonder if that could have been the three of us…had life not chosen different paths for us all.
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