We Look Good!

Just about twenty eight years ago, I had to say goodbye to one of my closest friends.  Because of her heartbreaking divorce, she and her three young children were heading back to California.  Maryann felt she needed to be near family.  She was right, but it was an extremely "tough pill" to swallow.   Friends for less than ten years, we had seen, shared and endured some tough times.  Maryann, a Navy wife had moved clear across this country to be near her husband.  At the time our friendship began, she had a baby girl, Michelle, with another on the way.  Matthew, my only child at the time, just a toddler.  Both young mothers, our conversations began at the old Baltic Laundromat.  Our interests much the same, we became fast friends.  Acting as the hostess of an imaginary "welcome wagon", Maryann, husband and daughter soon became well acquainted with the little village of Baltic and the surrounding towns.  We walked toddlers to Fred's News, enjoying a quick coffee and some penny candy, never dreaming, someday, the place would be mine.  Their preference would have been Navy housing in Groton, but there were none available.  Eventually they would move, first to New London, were we would visit, but Maryann and I would talk via phone calls everyday.  As young Moms we had much to learn and share.  Soon housing would become available and off to Groton they moved, the friendship enduring.  Both our marriages taking a turn for the worse, Maryann now having three children, myself two.  We were each others' rocks.  No one allowed a bad day, getting together as often as we could.  Maryann getting involved in the Sunday school program at the Sub base, now being run by none other than the Sisters of Charity.  Maryann would make the trek to Baltic, often, during the school year, helping out at St. Joseph's school sports events.

Divorces now behind us, time to get on with our lives.  Unfortunately, Maryann opting to return home to California.  Our friendship continuing.  Phone calls, letters,photos, holiday updates, new careers, new romance in our lives, we shared it all. Yet, never did our paths cross.  Yes, we tried, we planned, but obligations first.  Computers made our lives easier and quicker.  We joked as we both hit forty, how "WE LOOK GOOD!", still wanting to visit each other.  Bill and I had gone cross country at one point, trying to surprise Maryann.  We were on vacation, hoping to fit the surprise visit in.  Maryann and Jim, sailing off Catalina Island, never knowing we were in the area.  A few years later, Maryann's daughter, Michelle ready to be married, yes, I am going to the wedding.  Plans made, health problems stood in the way.   Letter, emails, photos, holiday updates continued.

October 29th, my friend, Maryann and husband Jim,to my surprise, showed up at Disney.  I knew they would be in Florida, for only a short period of time, but again problems were keeping us from meeting.  Knowing they only had a few hours before they would return to California, Maryann determined headed for Wilderness Lodge.  Only a couple hours of visitation, the years apart reviewed, now realizing how much I miss my dear friend, determined the time between visits will not be as long as the first.  Our departing words, "DAMN WE LOOK GOOD!"