Long, long ago

[vaneramos]

Curiouser and curiouser, turn the gardens through the doorways of my life. It would have been enough with my mother's sisters wishing to induct me back into the family, and a livelier correspondence rising with a cherished cousin, Cathy, on my father's side.

But now turning up are friends from long, long ago, whom I didn't know how to contact, and thought I might never see again.

My favourite is Sarah, my girlfriend from grade 13: intelligent, literate, classy and funny. She had a slight Scottish accent back then. I'm glad I didn't complicate her life by continuing to date her, but we lost contact in 1983, and I was so glad to receive a condolence card from her a few days ago, with an email address. It sounds like she has led a wandering life, too, and we must have nearly crossed paths in Toronto a gazillion times.

She had the email address of another school friend, Scott, who came out long before me, in 1985. I knew he had lived in London, Ontario, for a while, and tried to track him down there during the past year, to no avail. Turns out he is now a psychotherapist and lives in Provincetown.

But the strangest contact of all had nothing to do with Mom's death. As a child I had pen pals all over the world: England, Scotland, South Africa, Rhodesia, Ghana, Australia, Singapore, and other places I don't remember. But the best of all was Sumudu from Sri Lanka. We corresponded for years, probably until our mid teens, 30 years ago. I have lost the letters, and wouldn't have had a clue how to find her.

A week ago Sunday afternoon, Sumudu phoned. On a whim she had found "Poplar Bluff, Ontario" on Google Earth, and since Dad still lives there, was able to contact him. Her family—a husband and two children, slightly younger than mine—lives in Sydney, Australia. She lives and works part of the year there, part in Switzerland, and says I have a place to stay if ever I want to travel to those parts.

I've been writing lots of long, newsy emails lately.

Comments

[missprune.livejournal.com]

I have known a few times like that in my life, when connections seem to appear everywhere, and I have found they were very significant moments. How lovely!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It makes me wonder what's going on! But the connections are mostly happy ones, so I'm pleased to flow with it.

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

The photo is wonderful. I love the sidelit trees.

Congratulations on remaking all these connections. That sounds very cool.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I took the photo on the way to work one morning last week. Everything was covered with hoarfrost. It was a spectacular day.

[bearfinch.livejournal.com]

It's funny you writer about this when i was contemplating this morning weather or not I should go to my HS reunion next month. I'm not even sure what I would find talk about to acquaintances from back then...

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I don't think I would have much to say to most of my classmates, but Sarah and Scott were part of a different circle of friends sharing many common interests. I guess I was fortunate to have that in high school, but more often I tend to recall the unpleasant experiences from that time.

[jeffbriggs.livejournal.com]

its always fun to reconnect

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I'd say often, not always. ;-)

[jeffbriggs.livejournal.com]

actually I would agree

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there are a lot of people from my past I would rather not see again. Unfortunately, for many years I've let that discourage me from contacting the ones who would be, as you say, fun!