"i'm glad that we found you, or was it you who found us, as well.  it's odd becuase i remember thinking of you as a happy, settled, funloving person who lived nearby, happily exploring this new communication tool called mindsay.  i think that this julie is somewhere in there underneath some of this emotional mess and i hope she starts taking more of a dominant role after your sabatical."

I hope that intrepid28  doesn't mind my taking this out of one of his replies to me.  It got me thinking .... thinking about me before .... before depression.

I'm thinking that if I share some stories of the old me it might be easier to fall back into that person ... remembering good times ....

When these stories come out they will be in no order .... some newer experiences .... some from long ago.  Kinda whatever comes to mind at any given moment.  And hopefully give you all some insight to who I am.  Really am.

THE YEAR 1973.  THE DATE .... MARCH 13.  THE PLACE .... MY BEDROOM.  THE TIME .... AROUND 12:00 P.M.

My friend Dolly and I are listening to James Taylor the Mud Slide Slim album.  The song playing is "You've Got a Friend".  We start talking about where we will be 20 years from now.  Will we still be friends?  Will we be married?  Will we have children?  Typical questions any sophomore girl may be asking.  We decide to make a pact .... and put it in writing.  It went like this:

In 20 years, I am to meet Dolly L. (hers said Julie S.) at the southwest corner of Crenshaw & Torrance Blvd.'s.  Time:  12:00 noon. 

Then we both signed it.  Of course we didn't have a copy machine so it was handwritten twice and each copy was signed.  Serious business.

We told some of our closer friends about this pact and of couse they laughed .... a few wrote down the date.  Just in case they happened to be around on that date 20 years from now.  School went on .... we graduated .... I went directly into the work force and Dolly went to UCLA.  Our lives drifted apart .... she met her true love in college and married.  I was not able to attend the wedding.  I moved away first to central California.  She moved away to Maryland.  I partied hearty .... she setttled down and had two children.  Phone calls ceased.  A christmas card every year.  No mention of our pact.  I still carried this original note.  As I changed wallets - it would find a new home - usually safe within a plastic picture holder.  Time went on ....

THE YEAR 1993.  THE DATE .... MARCH 13.  THE PLACE .... SOUTHWEST CORNER OF CRENSHAW & TORRANCE BLVD.'S.  THE TIME .... NOON.

Dave and I are driving down Crenshaw Blvd.  Dolly and I haven't spoken.  Nothing had been mentioned in that year's christmas card  - not in mine to her or her's to me.  My heart is pounding .... I'm gonna be a few minutes late.  Will she be there?  I can hardly stand it.  We get to the intersection - need to make a left the light is green for us .... I look over and there she is.  OMG .... she is really there.  With the car in mid turn and still moving I jump out into traffic screaming.  Dolly sees me and starts laughing.  Next to her is another friend and another.  My eyes are welling with tears.  I can't believe this.  As we hugged and laughed and cried .... more and more friends are showing up.  Some Dolly knew were coming .... others she didn't.  Me ..... I was surprised .... by all of it.  One friend who couldn't be there sent her dad.  She and I had been inseperable as kids.  I was amazed to see him there ... he had been like my second dad.  In the end there were about 10 of us.  Grown men & women making a scene in what was now a gas station parking lot.  We stayed and visited with each other for about 3 days (um.... not in the parking lot ... they might not of liked that much).  It was one of the best times in my life.

I wish I had a scanner .... I'd share pic's.  My digital is in Dave's truck and not so sure about pic's of  pic's but might try later when he comes home. 

I had been thinking alot about this reunion lately due to a post from another mindsayer.  And just thought I'd share.  Hope I didn't bore you to tears .... !

Peace.  J.