I just adore this video! It gets me every time! Right now, I am sad to admit that the friend I have lost is my husband. Though we live together and see each other daily, the friendship that brought us together in the first place is gone. A Downer Debbie answer to be sure but honest.

I have made many great friends in varying areas of my life over the years. The one particular friend that I would love to find and reconnect with is Marisela, a teacher friend from my student teaching and first year as a teacher days in Eagle Pass, Texas. My 5 year old daughter (that she had never met) and I made the trip from Illinois to Texas for her wedding. We kept in touch for several years after that, even, but I now haven’t talked to her for many years. (The 5 year old is now almost 21!) Marisela was such a steady friend for me especially since I was so far away from home. I hope she is doing well and enjoying life!

I would love to connect with my dear friend Ruth from High School. My mom is working on getting her address for me right now. She wrote to me several years ago and thanked me for being her friend. My life was unraveling at the time and I waited hoping things would be better. By the time I wrote, she had moved and the letter came back. Thanks for issuing us this challenge to RECONNECT. . . .I’m making a list of several other dear friends that I have not talked to in years–Marcia–a friend from medical school, Suli–wife of a wonderful friend from high school. . . .The list goes on. THANKS FOR YOUR INSPIRATION!

For years I attended a yearly women’s retreat with a remarkable group of women primarily from the Midwest, we called ourselves the Midwest Pilgrims. We met in a variety of places, Kirtland, Ohio; Rochester, Minnesota; Rockford, Illinois; Purdue, Indiana; Nauvoo, Illinois; etc. Over the years we shared births, deaths, disappointments, successes, struggles, and triumphs. We strengthened each other and received strength from each other. We listened to special speakers from all over the U.S., attended workshops, and even exercised together. I learned how to quilt, regained interest in knitting, tried new cooking techniques, etc. Then one year I wasn’t able to go, I think I was helping with a new grandchild, and then the next year something else came up and before I knew it I hadn’t been for several years. I really miss those women! This makes me think about getting back on the mailing list and making sure I go next year. I love the way women connect with each other and the strength and support that can be offered by groups of women.

My answer to the question is not some one I have lost connection with but rather a friend that I wish lived closer and I had more contact with – and that would be my best friend from childhood LuAnne. LuAnne and I met in junior high school and became joined at the hip – best friends almost immediately. I have always joked that the reason I really liked LuAnne is that she is shorter than I am (she is 4′11″ and I am 5′2″) She is small, petite and blonde. People use to ask us if we were twins and we would smile and say “Yes.” They would wonder why we had different last names (our first names went together great – LuAnne and Leigh Anne). We would tell them that our parents had divorced and one of us went with our mother and the other with our father. We use to love pulling people’s legs with our story.

After high school I moved out west and LuAnne stayed in the midwest. We lost contact for awhile but reconnected a few years ago – just wish we lived closer!
So many of my favorite childhood memories involve LuAnne – remember spilling that plate of spaghetti all over the dining room carpet the first time you came for dinner at my house LuAnne!!?!?