Four Crossed Logs: Thank you, Facebook: Reconnecting with an old friend

I met my first best friend in pre-kindergarten at Leal Elementary in Mission, Texas.

It started with a fight over a fake box of cereal that was in our miniature, wooden play kitchen. (Insert gender predictability comment here.) She was playing with some other little girl and I grabbed something that wasn’t “mine” and that was that.

I fearfully gave it to her, and I don’t remember what happened after that. What I do know is that we became friends almost immediately.

Her mom always had her hair perfectly brushed, and there was almost always a matching colored bow in her hair. I remember that my hair was almost a bowl-cut nightmare with straight bangs across the middle of my forehead. Ugh. I spent most of my childhood at her house, her parents were my second parents and we rarely fought.

Being the only girl at my house was hard, and I always wanted a sister. I wanted to feel like I was a part of something and her and her family always made me feel included – even when we would collectively get in trouble for something – I was like, “Yes! I’m in trouble too!!!”

As time went on, we started to participate in different things. She was an athlete and a good one at that. I was a fine arts kid, always singing, acting or attempting to play an instrument.

While we grew apart and made new friends, as most of us do, I always held fond memories of that friendship. Without her and her family, my childhood would have been quite lonely. I hope for that kind of friendship for my own child.

A few months ago, she asked via Facebook about things to do here and where they should stay for the week they were visiting. I was so excited! I knew there was so much time between us so I was a little nervous, but I couldn’t believe they were coming here.

We met in Panama City, and the visit was therapeutic for me. It was like I blinked and we were 34 years old. We both talked about our families and our kids. We talked about the loss of her beautiful mother. I could see the strength of her father within her, and I haven’t seen him in just as long or longer. That was something that I could have only recognized face to face, and I’m glad I did.

I don’t particularly enjoy Facebook, but the very reason I still use it is because of my ability to connect with family and friends. Without social media, she could have been minutes away from me and I never would have known.