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This picture reminds me of growing up in North Dakota. During the winter, my dad took my brother, Donny, and I to a country school with a team of horses pulling a hayrack. We would lay on some hay and be covered with a blanket until we got there. I'm thankful for the memories I have of my childhood years.
This year for Christmas, I did something different. I've been gone from North Dakota now for 42 years. I started recalling people that I knew from around home when I was growing up . . . not counting any high school friends. I started searching for their addresses through www.whitepages.com and www.zabasearch.com . Also, a niece had sent me a phonebook, which really helped! It covered all the cities/towns which I needed and I literally went through that book from cover to cover. I found 25 'old' friends to get re-acquainted with. The last time I saw some of them was in the late fifties.
It was so much fun to do.
With the Christmas card, I enclosed a letter, a picture of myself and my e-mail address. Quite a few of these recipients are in their 70's, 80's and I know of one who just turned 90, so I don't look forward to receiving too many e-mails. Every letter I sent was different.
On Monday evening, an 'old' farming neighbor called me. I had talked with him last year, so he had my number. We visited about 20-30 minutes. I told him that I also remembered his brother, Archie, who is about 79 and lives in a nursing home. I'm hoping he'll remember me. I wrote and reminded him that I was the youngest of Charlie and Lizzie's kids.
One person that I wrote to, I really didn't know personally. I know 'of them', and this lady had graduated with my sister, Vernita, from highschool in the early fifties. I wanted to tell her how much it meant to me when I saw her at my mother's funeral in 1974. Well, here on Tuesday morning, I had a short e-mail from her. You can imagine how excited and thankful I was to receive it. She stated, " . . . you made my Christmas, Carolyn. What a surprise and so heart warming."
On Friday, I had a very long e-mail from another acquaintenance. It started, "How nice to hear from you! Yes, I remember you, and your family. The miles have separated all of us who used to attend the Balfour EUB church for far too long. Computer technology has now made touching hearts again, much easier. Thank you for making contact." All of these responses are like gifts to me. It is so exciting to hear from them. Towards the end, Kay wrote, "There are so many things going on in my life; not much grass grows under my feet. Hope to be blessed with many years before the grass is growing over my head, as well." She is about three years older than me and is very, very active. She lived in Colorado for 30+ years and has now moved 'back home'.
I wonder if I'll hear from anyone today. If I do or don't, it really doesn't matter. I have so enjoyed remembering these long-forgotten friends.
"As cold waters to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country"
Proverbs 25:25.
TRIPLES with EMMA | | |
| | Posted 12/22/2007 9:36 PM - 15 views - 15 comments
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