old friends, memory brushes the same years (365-233)

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Day 233 of 365: a year in songs and photos
Song: Simon and Garfunkel, Old Friends

Well, I knew I was going to cry as I processed these photos. It was just a matter of which picture would do it.

Nat and Jenna have been friends since kindergarten. Jenna lived around the corner from us (until we moved a few blocks away). For a few years, I'd walk Nat over to Jenna's house, or her mom would walk her over to ours. Then they started riding their bikes around the corner. Of course, I'd walk a few feet behind Nat, giving her the freedom to go, but not really letting her go completely. In the middle school years, I would walk around the block with her, taking the time between houses to talk to her in what seemed to be the only down time we had. Eventually she started walking over there by herself. Now she drives there.

No matter how many different directions these girls have gone in - joining different clubs, have separate groups of friends - they always remained joined at the hip, more or less. I've watched Jenn grow from a shy girl who was never quite comfortable with herself into a confident, beautiful, wonderful young lady. I have treated her like my own child and in a lot of ways, she is a part of our family, and Natalie a part of hers.

I just can't believe that's them in this picture.

As I watch everything unfold this week - the awards ceremony at school, the preparation for graduation, the prom - and I cry (and I was not the only parent crying during the picture taking today), I realize I'm not crying because she's all grown up and "leaving" me. I'm not crying because the past is gone. I'm crying tears of pride and joy. I can not tell you how proud I am of who Natalie is, and the same goes for all her friends.

Old friends, old friends,
Sat on their parkbench like bookends
A newspaper blown through the grass
Falls on the round toes
of the high shoes of the old friends

Old friends, winter companions, the old men
Lost in their overcoats, waiting for the sunset
The sounds of the city sifting through trees
Settle like dust on the shoulders of the old friends

Can you imagine us years from today,
Sharing a parkbench quietly
How terribly strange to be seventy

Old friends, memory brushes the same years,
Silently sharing the same fears

I could defintely imagine Nat and Jenna, at 70, sitting in a park reminsicing about prom night.

I'm going to stop here because I'm just going to continue this after graduation Sunday, anyhow. I'll spare you the rest of my blubbering for now :)

Comments

	Margi Lowry says: I'm sitting here, blubbering with you. It's wonderful! Thank you for sharing, Michele. Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )
	katbaro says: How beautiful they both are...you should be so proud for your part in raising both of them into these lovely young women Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )
	auntsmack4u says: the good stuff Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )
	doglington says: Beautiful gals. I'll just quote that famous line from The Outsiders: "Stay Gold" Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )
	kretyen says: Blubber on. That's what proms are supposed to do to moms! -- Seen in my contacts' photos. (?) Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )
	ladylouise62 says: Damnation - my eyes are watering too. Lovely text, lovely photo. Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )
	sazzy says: makes me cry. your daughter looks very much like my god daughter. we all sobbed at my god daughter's graduation but I laugh when I think how they got on the bus for the grad night party and her grandmother and I were practically hanging on to the back of the bus and she was inside with her buddies not looking back at all... Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )
	leedav says: That is so sweet. I am still good friends with my high school BFF and we live in the same town in WI even though we grew up in NY. Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )
	Drive-Design says: what a great post. good job. Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken in East Meadow, New York (map)

Taken with a Nikon D40.
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Taken on June 26, 2008

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old friends, memory brushes the same years (365-233)

Comments

Margi Lowry says:

katbaro says:

auntsmack4u says:

doglington says:

kretyen says:

ladylouise62 says:

sazzy says:

leedav says:

Drive-Design says:

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