By Eilene Lyon
After we returned to the U.S. from France in the early 60s, we moved into base housing at Ft. Lee, near Petersburg, Virginia. That’s where we met the Moores. Melinda (on the right) became my dearest friend for the time we lived there.
I don’t know who buried me, Steve, and Melinda in all that sand to take this silly picture, What’s weird is that we weren’t wearing bathing suits – we were fully dressed! (see below)
We never lived close to the Moores again, but my mom stayed in touch with them. I soon forgot about Melinda – I was probably about four when we parted, so that’s not surprising.
I recall we visited the Moores in Illinois sometime when I was in high school. They had this really awesome house that Mr. Moore had designed (he was an architect). It was the first time I’d ever seen a bathroom as large as a bedroom, with burgundy carpet and a huge sunken tub in the middle.
One of Melinda’s friends drove us to a basketball game. Afterward, she drove like a banshee down these long straight, two-lane country roads. It was pitch-black and foggy out and she floored it. I watched the speedometer creep up to 100… then past. Six or seven girls crammed in – none wearing seatbelts. The idea of speaking up terrified me. I was just terrified, period.
My last encounter with the Moores came in 1985 when I was moving from Ohio to Oregon. The trailer I was hauling was disintegrating and I knew I had to abandon it. Mom gave me the Moores’ phone number. They lived then in a remodeled old farm house. They put me up for the night and let me store the trailer in their barn, where it sat for a full year.
Being an Army brat is hard on friendships. I’ve lost track of so many over the years, but I do cherish them all. Wherever you are, darlings, I still think of you.
Such a sweet post. Some people are in our lives for such a short time, but sometimes have a meaningful impact, and will reappear when least expected.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Heather. There are so many friends from my past I wish I could go have lunch with – and I don’t even know how to reach them. (Finding dead people is easier.)
LikeLiked by 3 people
lol! It is especially hard to find female friends because they so often change their names!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exactly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bittersweet memories here. I adore the photo of you kids buried in sand, smiling like it’s the most normal thing to do. I, too, have lost touch with many people from my past. I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing, but it’s a reality.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes, it’s just how it is. I do get a little envious when people tell me about their get-togethers with friends they’ve had since childhood.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Me too. How does that even happen? Yet if you don’t move away and/or around I guess you stay in touch with your past. Just once, I’d like to be included in some kind of get-together like that…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good point. I am glad for all the forward momentum during my childhood and college years. Here I have planted myself in Durango now for 34 years – other people leave instead.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ain’t it the way?
LikeLiked by 1 person
And we always have such good intentions about staying in touch.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Isn’t that the truth? Good point.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember writing lots of letters, but yeah, that eventually dropped to nothing.
LikeLike
Great post 🙂
LikeLike
Sweet pics! Ah… the people i’ve lost touch with over time…
LikeLiked by 2 people
So’s we can appreciate the ones in our lives now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Virginia Beach caught my eye, since I lived in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake for many years when my husband was in the Navy. When I worked at Saint Leo College on the Naval Amphibious Base, we had a campus at Ft. Lee. (A tiny one.) I also had the same 100+ terror ride at the same age. It was in a purple Plymouth Barracuda, and I thought there was a very good chance that the four of us would die that night.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad I took you in a trip down memory lanes – except that last one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awwww.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Buried up to your little heads in sand while fully dressed is hilarious! How’d that happen?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No clue, honestly. It must have been a chilly day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, whatever works, right? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You were having fun! We moved every 5/6 years when I was young so I had several fresh starts. It’s hard to keep in touch when you aren’t independent and can’t visit under your own steam.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And too young to write!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great photo – and story! Lovely and bittersweet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, CJ.
LikeLike