Tuesday, January 4, 2011

~FEELING BETTER...and a Story From The Past~

Dear Sweet Blogging Friends...

I've taken a tiny little turn for the better and do believe the worst of my FLU is already past.  Thank you sooo much for your kind words, prayers and well wishes to me.  They mean more than you can know!  My Mr. AGPMan is indeed taking awesome care of me and I'm more blessed than I can say to have him in my life.

Now...before I scoot back off to bed (warm pink jammies, thick woolen socks and all) I'd like to share something with you if I may...

Even though I've been feeling truly crummy I've still TRIED to keep up with a few work related things because even when I'm sick I have a business to run (no sick pay for the self-employed I'm afraid!).  Anyway, early this morning while checking my email I discovered a sweet note from 'a stranger' and it stirred my memory about a blog post I did almost two years ago.  Since I'm not clear-headed enough right now to compose something new, I hope you won't mind this little 're-run' from February '09.  I'm hoping those of you who are newer to my blog will enjoy reading a tender story, one I will carry with me always...  I promise I'll be back soon!  Can't wait to show you what we've been up to!

Love to you~

Rebecca
Here is the email below that I received this morning:
 
Rebecca,

Hope this finds you well and lived through the Holidays! I am just letting you know that of all of the emails, messages, etc. that I have received over the years, yours is special!

If you are making an attempt to figure out who this is, it's the gentleman in Los Angeles that sent that Yearbook to you and have enjoyed the story that it has given me to share with whom I think could appreciate it.

Again, I hope this finds you and yours well and anticipating a better year!

Paul
Her name was Laura and from as far back as I can remember she was there.
 
Laura was a petite little thing, truly tiny. For years the two of us battled back and forth hoping to win the coveted title of “shortest girl in the class”. Secretly I believe we both enjoyed the grade school fame brought about by our questionable stature. I think we liked the teasing, too. At the very least we enjoyed being noticed for something certainly not notable.

Her hair was golden yellow and easily framed the delicate features on her lightly freckled, pixie-shaped face. My hair on the other hand was seriously mousy brown and my nose and lips could never be considered, um…well…delicate. My mother did dress me up fancy though, and if anything set the two of us apart it was our clothing. Laura was a confessed “Plain-Jane” and I was a bit “Prissy”. Her dresses were the dime store kind and forgettable. Her socks were dingy white and more often than not her shoes were too big and overly worn. Evidence of an older sister, I suppose. Still, we were friends. And it was during those early years at Bixby Elementary we dared to dream the biggest of dreams while carrying the smallest of reservations.

I remember best fifth grade, for that was the year we played “Barbies” for hours and the one and only time Laura was allowed to spend the night. We giggled until the wee morning hours, stopping only when my father came in to settle us down. FIFTH GRADE! The unforgettable year of Red Rover, Red Rover and the begging for my “best friend” to come over… It was also the year our classmate, Cindy, was bucked from her horse and died. The year we both learned of loss, experienced real sorrow and death. I remember how we cried…we were 10.

The years flew by. Laura and I stayed friends but we were never to be as close as we were during the summer of 1968. Little by little we’d grown apart, opting to follow different paths on our journey through life. There was hurt…there was anger…and there was pride. So much stupid pride! I moved from my home state of California to Colorado during the summer of ’74, two years before our class graduated from Glen A. Wilson High School. Although I received two letters from her before our high school graduation, I was never to see Laura again…
 

Now...fast forward to the summer of 2008…
 

Because I’m hopelessly sentimental, I always prayed I’d find a copy of Wilson's 1976 Prowler Yearbook. Moving away from my homeland had always been difficult for me and even though more than 30 years had passed, I longed to see with my own eyes some of the things I had missed. I searched tirelessly on the Internet for over seven years when one day I saw the very yearbook I’d been hoping to find offered up for sale on eBay. I couldn't click on the Buy-It-Now button fast enough…


I counted down the days until the yearbook arrived. She came wrapped in simple brown paper and had a return address which included my childhood hometown. I carried the book into my office and began to tear away the wrappings, slowly, carefully opening her cover. She was in good condition. She'd been gently loved and cared for. I was actually nervous...even a little afraid some of my past might catch up with me.


I quickly searched through a maze of scribbled names and sentiments, special keepsakes, endless photos and graduation calling cards for a hint at the identity of the yearbook's previous owner. And then, just to the right of a carefully pressed corsage was a name I immediately recognized…Laura Miller.

With a little help from a sweet high school pal, I discovered much about the life of my childhood friend. Laura indeed went on to have a very difficult journey. She endured more than her share of heartache and loss and battled things I can only scarcely comprehend. There were addictions, depression, and the inability to bear children. Finally, in the end there was the ovarian cancer that robbed her of breath in May ’08. She was 49.
I cried for a bit when hearing of the news of her passing…more than a bit if you want to know the truth. Cried because we’d lost touch and grown apart… Cried because Laura’s life was so DARN HARD while mine had been fairly easy. Cried because I never took the time to find her or at least try and help her through some challenging times… Cried because I never cared enough to understand her difficult choices, her history, her heartache… Cried because I’d judged her too harshly…refusing to even acknowledge the beam in my eye while picking at the speck in hers. Mostly I cried because I never took the chance I'd been given to say “I love you” and “I forgive you”.

Today I encourage you to bind the bruised and broken, mend fences, mingle memories, melt pain. Until we make peace with others, we’ll never be at one with our Creator.

I’m preaching to the choir, friend…

Blessings...

28 comments:

GoldenAngelsWorks said...

What a wonderful post... so much so that I feel the tears streaming down my face.

Rita said...

What a very touching story. It can be all of our stories, for we all have someone that we wish we had made peace with or gotten in touch with. The old saying goes, some friends are for a short time, some for a season, some for a reason and some for a life time. I'm very thankful for two friends that I have had for a life time. Not everyone can say that and it is a wonderful feeling. One of those friends passed away a couple of years ago of cancer, but we stayed in touch for nearly 50 years. One I still visit with every time I get a chance. I'm so glad you are better! Thanks for sharing.

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I well remember this story. It is so hard when we lose touch with friends, whether by our choosing or just life in general. I am so thankful for the friends that have stayed with me for the duration. They are treasures!

Linda said...

Oh My! That is a touching story.

Glad you are feeling a wee bit better...and that your husband is taking good care of you.

We are blessed to have such good husbands...mine always takes good care of me too!

Blessings in this New Year sweet Rebecca.
Keep sharing with others the beauty of Christ who shines from within you.

Love, Linda

Sonya Badgley said...

Rebecca,
That is just something that it ended up being Laura's yearbook! God works in amazing ways doesn't He? A gentle reminder to you that He loves you and wants you to love others in the same way. What a blessing.
I am glad to hear that you are feeling better.
Blessings,
Sonya

Jennifer Ann Fox said...

Very enlightening post!

Jennifer

Jan's Blog said...

Thank you

Mari said...

HELLO SWEETIE,

WHAT A MOVING POST!!! I ACHE FOR YOUR LOST TOO! BUT IM SURE SHE IS LOOKING DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND KNOWS YOUR INNER FEELING SWEETIE :)

IM GLAD THAT YOUR DEAR HUBBY IS TAKING SUCH GREAT CARE OF YOU :) I TOO HAVE BEEN SICK WITH A BAD COLD AS A RESULT LOST MY VOICE!! BOY THAT MUST MAKE HUBBY VERY HAPPY...LOL
GET PLENTY OF REST AND LOTS OF FLUIDS DEAR ONE :)

HUGGERS~XO~MARI

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Rebecca,

That is incredible. Such a yearbook went almost full circle! A chance of one in a million to get that back from a friend you'd lost.

Sad if one cannot get in touch with a favorite friend at times they need us most. But I believe in heaven and all will work out for a reason. They can get closer to us from heaven than they ever were on earth...

Love you and you better be 'respectful' of your own health!

Mariette's Back to Basics

peggy aplSEEDS said...

thanks for sharing this lovely story. it is definitely worth posting again!

joanne said...

through sobs and tears I say thank you for such a touching post. Please feel better soon..;j

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, Rebecca! I can almost not see through my tears. Thank you for sharing this with us. It really was a reality check for me on some things, and I appreciate you sharing your heart with us.

Feel better!!!

XO,

Sheila

Unknown said...

Rebecca, What a touching and beautiful post and the yearbook, what a gift as a reminder of times past, I can barely write through the tears running down my face. I'm glad you are feeling better my friend, get some rest and be well soon. I'm sure your childhood friend is watching over you and understands. Bless you and hugs, Marilou

Anonymous said...

Hi,Rebecca!I'm happy you are feeling better!!The story you told us touched me deeply: myself, if I look back, I realize that I left many things and many people behind me ... with the knowledge of today, I wish that things were turned out differently ... but that's life, I guess ... a series of choices (ours and others), which sometimes bring us joy, sometimes sorrow and regret ..hugs,Debby from Italy

Anonymous said...

Dear Rebecca....first, I am happy to hear that you are beginning to feel better. I know your Mr..AGPMan has seen to it that you rest so as to be well soon!! Ahhh, he probably had to hog-tie" you to keep you in bed!!! LOL
Second, your post today meant more to me than I can tell you..it struck a chord in my life and heart...thank you for sharing it with us and for reminding me that GOD's hand is with us always, even when we do not realize it..
Take good care and get well soon. sweet friend...Hugs, Francy

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Dear Rebecca,
What a beautiful post!!
Made me cry and think of friendships lost....
Hope you are feeling better and wondering if what you have is the same thing I came down with on Christmas Day of all days. I was still sick until Wed. after becoming ill on Sat. It was gastroenteritis...

Hugs,
Debbie

Dolores said...

I'm so glad you re-posted this heartwarming and poignant post. There's such a good lesson in the story, most of us have been there.....as children...and adults too.

So glad you're feeling better...take care not to rush yourself.

Beautiful post!!
Hugs,

Laura's Rose Garden said...

Good morning Rebecca,
I just discovered today that you have been ill. I am glad to read that you are on the mend. Mr. AGPman is an angel for taking such good care of you. Remember to get lots of rest. If you work too much it will prolong your illness. Chicken soup with onions, carrots, celery and a bit of rice is a wonderful healer and great comfort food. (When I am unwell it can be made very quickly by using a carton of chicken broth and add 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped stalk of celery, 1 chopped carrot and 1/4 cup of parboiled long grain rice or brown rice)Let it simmer for about one hour to let the flavours meld together.
Your story about your friendship with Laura and receiving her year book is AMAZING!! God works in very mysterious ways, doesn't he. I am positive that your post today and back in Feb. 2009 touched many lives and encouraged people to find that estranged special someone from their past and make things better between them. You, my dear friend, are a Miracle Worker!
Much love and warm hugs, Laura

Theresa said...

I am happy to hear you are feeling better and will continue to pray for you dear Rebecca!

WOW, the yearbook story gave me chills! Life is really short, shorter for some and we ALL need to be more loving and forgiving! Thanks for sharing your story about Laura!

Have a blessed day! HUGS!

Pink Roses and Teacups said...

Hello dear Rebecca,

What a heartwarming story. that is ironic that you received her yearbook. I'm sure she is looking down upon you and smiling. thanks for sharing such a sweet story.

Hugs,
Debbie

Jan M said...

So happy to hear you are feeling better. May you feel even better tomorrow and each day thereafter. Thank you always for your inspiring and comforting words, even when you are the one who needs comfort.

Trisha said...

What a truly amazing story! It is definitely something I will try to do myself as I have some broken bridges to mend, old and new. Someday I will, and this post will be something that I refer back to when I need the push to do it! Thank you for your beautiful words!

~Trisha

Kathy B. said...

I am glad you are feeling better, and that you have a great husband who takes such good care of you-- when you are sick AND when you are well! I just wanted to make a comment on your story about Laura, and that is I believe God has a master plan that we are all a part of. The fact that you ended up with Laura's yearbook was no accident, and your sharing the sweet story about her (twice!) will have an effect upon many others, and was meant to happen for some reason. And now it's all tied in with Paul, who sent you the yearbook in the first place, who will also share the story!

I hope you know what a positive influence you are, not only to your own family and friends, I'm sure, but to your "friends" out in "bloggerland" as well.

kathy.bruner@hotmail.com

Sue said...

I am so glad you are feeling better!What a beautiful story, and the reminder of the value of friendships!and of how God gave you the desire of your heart!
Hugs,
Sue

elizabeth said...

I am just finding out about your flu, and I am hopeful that you are much better by the time you read this comment! I am enjoying reading your blog, and this was a wonderful post.

karen said...

Wonderful post. Feel better soon. I sure you are since I am so behind in reading this . :)

Lisa & Gerald said...

I'm so glad you are feeling better..It's going around...Glad to hear your sweet Mr.AGPman is taking care of you...Stay warm my friend..Hugs...

Unknown said...

Oh wow, that was like reading a mini novel. Thank you for posting it and allowing us a peek at an important piece of your life.

Get well soon,
Deb

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