Yesterday I had the privilege to visit with a dear friend I hadn’t seen in thirty years. Even then, thirty years ago, our visit was only about an hour and we had to part.
I should start with sixty seven years ago. That is almost, and I really mean, almost all my life. When I think about all those years, it boggles my mind. How could that have happened? It seemed like only yesterday I was saying goodbye to my friend as our car headed north. My dad had been resigned to Fort Drum, New York.
My parents were married in 1946 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dad, who had been in the Army during WWII and had been discharged, decided he liked the steady pay check. So he signed up again. His orders were cut for Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He left immediately to wait for his family, which now included a wife and two children.
Mom boarded the troop train with two small children and headed toward Kentucky. When she arrived she was greeted by Dad’s sergeant telling her his orders had been changed to Cumberland Army Depot outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. So we boarded the train again and headed to Harrisburg.
When I think back on this I am reminded of how God’s plan was put in motion on that day Mom got back on the train and headed east. He is the one who knows where His children need to be and places them there for a reason. After all these years I still don’t know the reason, but that’s alright. He must be using me some how and only He knows. My trust and faith is in him.
I’m reminded of the verse in Mark 9:50. “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”
When I left Pennsylvania my friend and I vowed to write to each other. I was seven years old. She was eight. From that time on we lived our lives through our letters, graduation, getting married, having children, and everything that goes on from there. We exchanged pictures of our families, our homes, our dreams, and our sorrows. All through out those sixty some years.
Last night we were able to spend a couple of hours together and it was like we had just seen each other last week. We picked up where we left off. From those two little girls to two elderly women sporting white hair, and a few extra pounds, we were still those two little girls all over again.
Our friendship will go on until we are called to our heavenly home where we will take up where we left off. Praise God.
sandraleecleary 
Your visit meant a lot to my mother. It has not been easy for her since my father passed. Uniting with you was a very joyful moment for her. You truly made a cherished memory for my mom even if it was a brief one. Thank you so much for taking the time to drive out to see her.
The pleasure was all mine. I enjoyed talking to her and you and husband. So glad to finally meet you. I do have full intentions to visit this summer. Not sure when but I will visit. I also have a writer friend living in Hershey. She is up for an award this year for her Amish book Promise to Return. Her name is Elizabeth Byler Younts in case you like reading Amish stories. PLUS my writer friend here, Judy Watters, was born and raised in Wellsboro. Her book The Road Home is a memoir about growing up on a farm there outside of Wellsboro. Soooo I really need to come for a visit so I can see Wellsboro. All in all…..yep……I’m coming for a visit. Carol and I can reminisce about old times, even though it was for a short while together, it’s been a lifetime through letters. Thank you Anita.