By Marty Coffin Evans
A pink slip arrived in my high school classroom summoning me to the Dean of Girl’s office. “Oh dear,” I thought, believing I was a good kid and not accustomed to being called to a front office, especially one involving discipline. Dean Ruth Dinsmore proceeded to introduce me to Donna, a student new to our school. She asked me to show Donna around our large high school, introduce her to my friends and make her feel welcome. I didn’t know the teary impact of this introduction for Donna’s mother or her. Two new schools in two years was a lot.
Columnist Marty Coffin Evans
Who knew those years ago where our journey would take us let alone our matronly dean thinking to connect two shy, relatively quiet, young girls. Maybe it was Donna’s interest and artistic ability or my musical one with choirs.
Donna and I still laugh at all the crazy, off the wall bad jokes I told. In retrospect, although she laughed, and probably wondered about them, I worried I’d offended her and caused the potential loss of a new friend.
I needn’t have worried given a decades-long friendship which evolved. We’ve traveled the highs and lows of life through marriages, loss of parents and special friends, along with new relationships.
We’re told friendships keep us mentally healthy and help us live longer, richer lives. Caring and sharing come along with friendships while helping us navigate life’s challenges.
Recently at our two-plus-hour lunch, I gave Donna a wooden plaque – “Girlfriends are the sisters we choose for ourselves.” We both agree, this inscription well describes our relationship, even though she has a sister and I, no siblings.
That day, Donna commented, “I love how we just pick right up where we left off.” Previously, we might have touched briefly on friends and family. This lunch became different as we talked about collaborating to create a workshop. She would bring her artist skills; I, my writing, all the while laughing at ourselves.
We may never know how or where friendships emerge. May you too be blessed with the gift of friendships.