Friends

When you grow up in a very small town, you make and keep friends for a very long time. I have been friends with Barbara since I was 4 years old. Barbara lived across the street with me and we walked to school together every day. Her parents had come to the United States from Germany after World War II. Barbara had an older sister and brother. Gaby was about 4 years older and Mike was just one year ahead of Barb. Barbara's parents had thick German accents and sometimes they were hard to understand, but they were wonderful people. Barb's Mom made all sorts of German desserts. The family was known for the parties they threw, mostly for their German friends. I was envious...they would stay up most of the night having a good time.

Barbara was so much fun. We would giggle and laugh for hours! She was the kind of friend you dream about...one who would stick by you, no matter what. We would talk for hours on the phone when we were in high school, about boys, clothes, school, friends. She has lived in Germany for 30 years and, during the few times we have been able to get together over the years, you would never know we had ever been apart!