A little town along the interstate kept calling my name. It kept beckoning me. I kept seeing the signs. I read,
"Harlan 11 miles". That wasn't so far off my path. It has been many years. I needed to get some "Candi". I made the call, and we visited, just as we often do. She was home. My hand made the turn of the wheel and I was on my way.
I am SURE there were those who thought I was a stalker, but it was just me, a crazy woman who stops and takes pictures of signs. I wasn't sure if I remembered how to find my way.
Not so different from ordinary towns.....a nice car wash.....
A Subway....
I even asked a nice couple for directions. They must have believed me when I was able to produce the name of someone I was searching for, and I could go so far as to tell them the address of this person, and that, in my memory, the house in question was very "near downtown".
There is was, exactly the address I remembered. Exactly where I remembered it...sort of....but, as I said, it was very near "downtown".
I parked across the street, tiptoed to the door, knocked and hid, just like a neighborhood child. No one answered. I knocked again and assumed my position behind a tree. When I grew tired of this game, I entered the porch and knocked on the inside door. Someone opened the door, and in my surprise and my attempt to hide behind the nearest coat rack, I missed the perfect photo opportunity. Laughter, shock, shrieks, more laughter.... "Carol, what are you doing here?"
Meet Candi...my college roommate. That would be 30 some years ago in 308 East Bonebreak. We ate a lot of popcorn, yelled out the window as our friends were making the diagonal path to and from the Commons, ran out together in the fire drills in the middle of the night, danced for dystrophy, ate some greasy sandwiches at the truck stop, had late night ice cream at the Student Union, tried to have a Christmas tree that shed nearly ALL its needles in our room, made it through several unrequited romances, shed many tears together, danced at some dance place downtown that I can't remember the name of, and had some infamous "Herb's" Hotdogs. We went to Thoren, to Dubs,to Weidler, Wernli, Centennial, Memorial, the Commons, did our laundry in a tiny little campus laundrymat, sang and went to lectures in Kime, Candi worked at the library, I worked at the food service for Fawzy. We sang the Westmar Fight Song..."We sing the glory or Westmar College, the school that stood for loyalty. And now we praise thee, all honor to thee, that all the world can plainly see. We stand beside thee with one accord, we all now say: Three cheers for the blue and white. For thee we'll always fight! Live on our college for aye!"
Westmar revisited, 1988 in front of "Westy"
Probably the last time we were all together, Candi, Yvonne, Peg, Pat, Beth and I. Peggy and Jeff were married on campus on our Graduation Day in 1980.
Candi...I can still smell the Windsong, hear "Freebird", and see her trudging to the showers with her slippers and her shower pail. 30 years and I can still call and talk to her. She has shared my joys and my sorrows. She shared in my wedding and I in hers. She has been with me as my children were born, my grandchildren were born, and as I said goodbye to my mama. They even made the trip for our son's wedding 6 years ago.
Candi and Rich became parents in 1984 when Nicholas was born EXACTLY one year to the day after we had our first son, Brandon.
During another visit in 1990, the boys got to drive Nick and Ashley's car.
Candi and I remembered that visit and I was able to find the pictures to prove it!
Candi and Rich
I am so, so, so happy I took the time and the extra miles to visit this friend. I got lots of laughs, lots of hugs, and I want to thank you, Candi, for your friendship for all of these years. I am so blessed to call you my friend.
Until we meet again, always remember,
"A lifetime's not to long to live as friends"!
She brings the pail of water and the rags, and she stores the flowers and flags for all of us...and she honors our loved ones each year. She goes from town to town to town, still caring for those who have gone on before. She teaches me how to take care of those we love. Mom loved flowers, Dad loved the red, white and blue. She remembers.
Sister Linda teaches her granddaughter not to fear the cemetery, to care for and about this place that holds our loved ones. They talk about Grandma, forever alive in our hearts. Joselyn was very small when Grandma went home, but she remembers.....
We take our grandsons to the cemetery too and teach them about death and about new life. They wave up at the sky, to the particulary bright, twinkling stars and say, "Hi, Grandma Nichols! Hi, Grandpa George! Hi Uncle Ryan! Hi Grandpa Jim! Love you!" They know about loss. They know about remembering. They know and will tell you..."Your body goes in the ground, but your heart goes to Jesus".
I drive from place to place. I take pictures. I remember. I share with you.
