I have a very long memory, one I am greatful for ... my first true best friend

True Teenage Friendship looks like this ...  it  lasted

through hormones, boy craziness ( me) and all the other insane things that define highschool. This is Angela ( on the left and that is me on the right at the 1990 football finals for VP - I was likely cheering on a boy named Nick who I had a not so secret crush on and who could not have given a hoot that I thought he was all that!)( or it could have been Sean or Eric, or Donnie -  ahh but it all started with Brad!!! - I wasn't kidding I had boy craziness but none noticed me!)

Today on facebook I  saw a picture of her and her husband ( who just happens to also have been her highschool love) and a flood of memories came back to me, of not just the two of them, but of her and all the wonderful things she brought into my life, during the time when I was pretty much the most confused, person in the whole world ( or at least that is what I thought, remember I was only sixteen), but even before that trips to Lake Placid, Florida for the swimteam, The breakfast club gang ( no not the one in the movies ) , highschool parties, late night talks and of course we can never forget the twins that I secretly loved ( I wonder whatever happened to Chris and Alex?) or her crazy car that I drove into a curb or something in an empty parking lot!

I credit her with teaching me the value of friendship. The true value of friendship, something I take and hold dear to me even now. While we have only seen  and or spoken to each other on very rare occasions, and regretably I have not met her sons ( now big boys!) she will always represent to me, not only that early time in my life that I remember vividiy, but also she reminds me, that we are the sum of the people we love, and everything they have ever shared or given us. She taught me more lessons about family, heartbreak, how to hold a grudge ( she was stubborn and knew her mind even when she was young). She represents not only in my life - a person who, would give her friendship to someone who felt lost at times, and who would be there when I felt no one else could, should or wanted to.  A girl who let me stay with her and her family while my life felt like it was falling apart, and I was really truely at my worst. Like I said she was a big part of my teenage years. 

While it was in the span of my life a very short time, it was  is a place dominated by her memory -- and for that I have gratitude.

I have seen only a glimpse of her life in pictures, and a much too short catch up session one early morning breakfast a couple of years ago.  Today seeing her hugging Corey on a boat -- looking pretty much like they did 20 years ago.. I thought -- man I was really lucky to have her in my life to help start me on my path to becoming me.

So Angela .. Thank you. Our paths may never run on the same ground again, but you will forever be my first true best friend.. so remember I know everything I need to know about you, and my memory is long, very long....  

"Young Hillary: Be sure to keep in touch C.C. ok?


Young C.C.: Well sure we're friends aren't we? "