Amy, Nora, Vicki, and I all started working for That Large Corporation within the same six-week period in 1992. I loved my job (though I didn’t love being laid off four years later) even with all its frustrations, mostly because I worked with some extraordinary people. It delights me that twenty years later, a group of us remain friends even though it’s been a long time since we worked together. As coworkers, we celebrated holidays and birthdays together, met for dinners and lunches, went to movies, had cookouts and parties. After we were no longer working together, we supported each other through life-changing family events. We’ve celebrated wedding showers and weddings, baby showers, babies, and grandbabies. We’ve supported one another through sickness, divorce, and funerals. The children Shawn had when we were working together are nearly grown. Vicki and Lynne have granddaughters. Lisa has two sons. Amy has four sons. Nora has two daughters. I wrote some books, painted some canvases, and adopted dogs.
We never know when we might see each other, but we always manage to keep in touch. Today brought some rain and thunder, much like the weather twelve years ago today when Amy and Richard were married. I told her then that rain on a wedding day means good luck, and I loaned her a coin to wear in her shoe–the same coin I’d used on my wedding day. Today, I want to send out anniversary wishes. May you and Richard have many more years of happiness with your beautiful family, Amy. Thank you for always being such a steadfast, loyal friend to me. I love you. =)
