73. I Love ... having had a Childhood Friend.

I was almost twelve years old

before

I had a Real Friend,

a Daily Friend.

That's just the way it was.

I lived in the country

at a time when parents

didn't drive you to activities

and play dates;

didn't consider

that spending time socially with other children

outside of school

was beneficial or necessary.

That's just the way it was.

I still recall the excitement

when I found out

that a girl the same age as me

was moving in next door.

June 1965.

From that moment

to this very day,

we have been

Friends.

We laugh

about the times we had,

the dressing the same,

the phoning each other

the minute we got in the house

even though we'd spent the entire day

together.

The crazy, silly, embarrassing

things we did.

It was so good to have a

Friend

back then

and to still have her 

now.

Happy Birthday Nellie.