Unlimited Minutes: My True Short Story About A Long-Distance Friendship Between Two Women
Posted: Monday, December 07, 2009
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
UNLIMITED MINUTES
"Don't you ever move from this subdivision", she would say.
My neighbor, Karen and I each refurbished our 30 something year old ranch homes with much planning and details. Every project seemed like a work of art. We had our homes painted vibrant colors on the inside; we redid the master bath with new vanities, tubs, etc. Around 9:00 a.m. my phone would ring, I knew it would be Karen with a new decorating idea or a plan for new furniture. Sometimes it was something as simple as "What are you having for dinner tonight?"
Because we all got along so well, soon we would be going out every Friday and Saturday night for hamburgers at Steak and Shake. I would top it off with Strawberry Shortcake and Karen would have a vanilla milk shake. We sometimes went to the Magnolia Grill for fried Okra and pork chops .We would linger over iced tea and complain about how much we ate.
When the men caught fish, we would get together for a fish fry and all of the trimmings.
Karen lived just three houses down and across from us. One evening I called her and jokingly said that I needed a "chocolate fix." She said that she would meet me half-way, as she had some chocolate bars on hand. So I did! We laughed and went back to our respective homes.
Karen and I walked over a mile in our subdivision in the late afternoon or evening so that we could indulge once in a while in chocolate or ice cream.
Then we went on the South Beach Diet together and compared notes. We all four lost weight and prided ourselves with feeling healthier.
We both purchased our puppies at a farm in a nearly town. We went through "potty training" at the same time. This was such a fun time! Every morning Karen and I would chat about their potty-training progress and the cute things that our puppies Sunny and Sugar did.
Also, Karen and Ronnie helped us make a smooth transition from a larger two story home to an older ranch house. It was hard for us to leave that house. I would be lying if I said I didn't love my beautiful yellow two story home, but Jim and I knew it was time to downsize, So we sold our home and came to this lovely subdivision with big Oak trees adjacent to a beautiful park. It was both a challenge and an inspiration to fix up and make our smaller ranch home more attractive.
Life was good.
Then, the crushing news came suddenly. Karen and Ronnie had decided to move back to their home state, Missouri. Before we could even digest the fact that they were moving, it was over. The first person that saw their beautiful home bought it. Closing was just in a few weeks. It was a done deal.
Naturally, Jim and I were just devastated. We were both sad and angry. We talked every day about how we knew that this was all a big mistake and that they would be forever sorry that they left Florida and all our "fun" places..
My phone calls to Karen got fewer and fewer during the ensuing days. I just couldn't. It saddened me too much.
Our hearts were broken. Hadn't we all been together for the hurricane that was supposed to hit us dead on? Hadn't we had dinners together almost every week-end? What about the fact that Karen kept saying........"don't ever move away from here." We felt "duped" and yet we knew that we should be wishing them well and supporting them.
One day Karen called me. "I really need you now. You are hurting our friendship by ignoring me." I walked over to Karen's house. I apologized and said that it was hard for me to be supportive while losing my best friend but vowed I would try harder. I gazed at all the familiar surroundings. I looked out the glass sliding door to the patio. I also looked around at the beautiful family room with a crimson wall behind the piano. This room held many secrets We would sit in this room and sip our coffee and talk about our children or a current problem we were having. Sometimes it would be just bantering back and forth with laughter. At other times, we would share our hopes and dreams. My throat began to tighten and before I knew it, my unshed tears could no longer keep from spilling over.
How could she be so happy and care-free when my heart was breaking? She'll be sixteen hours away. Why does she want me to help her pack when I don't even want to be around her? Oh well, I'll just help her pack up on Friday and then she'll be on her way. The sooner, the better. I know how this works - out of sight, out of mind. Oh well, I will get lost in my writing project and pretend we never met! It will be better this way. I'll have more time for my writing.
Of course, part of me knew that I was acting selfishly but I remained stubbornly set against my best friend's departure. I just knew she would be better off in Florida than in Missouri. .
The following weeks I still tried to avoid Karen to some extent. After all, she wouldn't be around very long, so I may as well get used to it right now.
A few weeks later Karen and Ronnie spent their last night in Florida with us. Everything was packed. The house that Karen had lovingly made into a home for the last ten years was sparkling clean and waiting for it's new owner. As I vacuumed the floors, it's empty walls seem to echo "she's leaving, she's leaving................
Karen promised me that she would call every day and we would still remain friends. I stubbornly reminded her that it wouldn't be the same. There would be no walking or meeting her halfway for chocolate bars. I made it as hard for them as I could.
They promised to visit us as in a few months.
At dawn the next morning, we quietly had breakfast and made small talk. Then, they stole away from Helmsman Street. Their smiles and waves to us disappeared, as their Silver Buick swallowed them whole. I was too sad to even shed a tear.
The quietness of that morning raced all up and down Helmsman Street and just hung there, unmoving.
Sure enough, the sun came up the next morning.
Life goes on.
Karen and Ronnie did call us frequently but I always reminded them that they would miss our fishing trips on the Gulf of Mexico and all of their friends on Helmsman Street. Every telephone call from them was the same. I was living in the past. In a half-teasing and half-angry way, I would always remind them that it just wasn't the same.
This went on for about six months. Gradually, I tried to accept this change, gracefully. I worked hard on my writing project. Jim and I went fishing together and became closer. I began watching Nascar Racing on television and joined our extended family pool that allows us to pick two people a week for the Nascar Race winner.
We still each had our separate activities. Jim played golf and I lunched with acquaintances, read and continued writing.
This is a good thing. Life is trying to tell me something. True, it will never be quite the same, but this is good for Jim and I to spend more time together. This is fun...time to move to another level.
I loved doing things with Karen and Ronnie but some where along the way, had Jim and I begun to ignore each other? Had I taken his ready companionship for granted?
The dark clouds began to roll away and the sun shone again.
Wednesday was now our date day. We either would go to lunch or the movies or both. Sometimes we'd go to the mall or simply watch a television movie and take a walk in the park. The one thing that hurt the most was our friend's moving away and yet, that was also the thing that made us reach out more for each other and become closer.
About Karen........we are now better friends than ever. I can truly wish her happiness now. She bought a house near her daughter and extended family. She has lovingly renovated her house and built a deck in the back. I am sure because of her decorating skills, the house must be beautiful and comfortable home. Step by step, she goes over the plans with me until I can picture it in my mind.
Yes, they did come to Florida after six months to visit us. Considering the fact that it is a sixteen hour drive, we felt most honored and realized that we always would be friends.
We waved heartily, as they drove away. Our hearts were filled with memories of dining together at Tio Pepe's, fishing, shopping, playing cards and just plain laughing while watching our two now grown dogs, Sugar and Sunny frolic together.
The next morning around 9:00a.m., the telephone rang. Karen and I began to rehash the whole week and all the fun times we had. Then, our conversation changed to the usual mundane things. Does she like my new lamp in the bedroom? How will we lose the three pounds we gained last week? Should I add more cabinet space in the main bathroom? Then, it was time to hang up until our next conversation.
Life is good.
My heart danced with anticipation as I awaited her morning call.
Karen has unlimited minutes on her telephone.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Very well put and touching - you are nudging me with free minutes also. Our's are Ed and Paula and we moved and left them in Calif. some 16 years ago.... they have been to see us numerous times since and we have been back too.... I need to call my Paulie! Marijo
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