Bound by Friendship and Love

I first met Mary in the 7th grade. She had just lost her father and was in need of emotional support. I was just a new student to the Litchfield school district and I needed a good friend. It just so happened that we both went to the same church ( St. Gertrude's in Forest City) and we found each other. I had the strong shoulders for her to lean on and she had the open arms of acceptance and friendship that I needed. We became good friends and remained friends throughout high school and up until the time she left for college. Even then our friendship continued. In December of 1973 I moved to California to stay with and help my sister, Cecilia. Her husband had been sent to sea and she was left alone and expecting their first child. I met and married Brian while out in California. Mary met and married a man and lived in Willmar. Our lives went separate directions at that time. We each had children, both of us had our share of challenges and life has brought us together again. I ran across Mary at her brother's birthday celebration. I hardly recognized her. But we got reacquainted. We kind of separated again after that but it was only to be for a brief time. Life has all kinds of twists and turns and call it fate, call it the hand of God or call it what you will but once again circumstances have brought us together again. Mary found out from a relative of one of my brother-in-laws that I have cancer. She contacted my sister to get my phone number so she could call me. It turns out that Mary had her own battle with cancer.She has been cancer free for five years. Now it is my turn and Mary has come back into my life. This morning we met each other in town and had breakfast together. Mary is a very cheerful and positive person by nature and she is just what I need at this time in my life. How blessed my life has been to have a friend like Mary. It is great to have her back in my life and I welcome her with open arms. We have a lot to catch up on and I look forward to many more visits with her.