Interrupted schedule - flashback photo

I have to interrupt this Vacation story line to share with you something sent to me by a good friend of mine....

wait...

my BFF - from when I was 3-9 years old

and one of those girls that I am so thankful for!

THIS... is pre-glasses Julia and 'BFF' Jessica

I am not sure exactly the age here - only that it had to be before 3rd grade (also known as the beginning of bad glasses years.... that lasted, well, till today)

When I look at that picture so many things cross my mind.

1st - how wonderful it was then to have a good friend - we had no clue what the next few years would hold for us. I would move, we would write letters back and forth... and when we got tired of writing, we would record our letters to each other on cassette tapes. I am sure our parents thought we had lost our minds... but that in itself is an example of how awesome our parents were! (and still are... )

2nd - This friend got married about 10 years before me.... I was at her wedding... I am sure there are incriminating pictures of that - she came to mine in 2007. When we were 7 years old, we believed that we would be "BFFs" forever. It seems that even through times where we didnt have contact for years - we are still living in -forever-

3rd - that little brown eyed, brown haired girl had so much in front of her. If I had a clue then what all would happen in this lifetime - I don't think I would have believed it!

How wonderful to have memories. While at times they can haunt us - remind us of painful things... this time - it is so wonderful to remember amazing times - full summers - spending the night - staying awake till wee hours of the morning - imaginary games - a ride in a jet airplane - VBS every summer - 'cool-ots' (not sure how to spell that tragic piece of clothing required by Jessica's elementary school) - cassette tapes - the Monkeys TV - The Chipmunks great race - and SOO many other wonderful times.