A Friend for the Ages

I was 7 when my family moved into our first new home in Green Bay, Wisconsin. We were so proud. The year was 1955 and as very good luck would have it, the house was situated right next door to a family who had a daughter named Donna. She and I became very best friends. She was a year younger than me and an only child. I was the eldest of what was to become a family of 5 children.

My friend and neighbour, Donna

Donna and I grew up side by side and did everything together. We went to the same school, played Monopoly, rode bikes, went swimming, took the bus into town and played dolls and dollhouses.  We were inseparable.

Together with our friends Mary Ellen, Linda and Suzie, we even put on amateur circus and talent shows. We were all close to the same age and became a circle of best girlfriends.

As we grew older, we went to high school together, attended school dances and Proms and sometimes even double-dated.

After leaving high school, I got married and moved to Texas. Donna came to visit when my husband was away serving in Vietnam. We went to the World’s Fair in San Antonio and to Mexico together. We always had a ball!

Then our lives went in very different directions, but as is the hallmark of true friendships, we remained in touch and when we spoke, it was like no time had elapsed. I lived in a different state, so every time I went home, a visit and stay with Donna was a must.When my parents died, she was there. Donna and her mother Red were like my family.

We shared a wonderful friendship as young girls

As the years went on and I moved overseas, our visits became more infrequent, but there was always the phone. Whenever either of us was in trouble or had something wonderful to share, we were there for each other.

Now, for the first time in her life, Donna is leaving the US and travelling overseas – to Australia! She arrives on February 5^th at 6.20am. I can’t tell you how excited I am to see her again.

But I wonder: will Australia be a culture shock for her or will she embrace this strange and wonderful country as I have? It’s been so long since I lived in the States, it’s hard for me now to see Australia through those fresh eyes I had when I first arrived…those same fresh eyes Donna will be seeing everything through.

I will let you know Donna’s first impressions. Stay tuned!