Recently I started reading Nancy Lindemeyer's new book, My First Best Friend.
It is bringing back so many memories of my first best friend, Judy.
Judy's mom was leaving the hospital after giving birth to Judy and her brother, Jack, when my mom was going into the hospital to give birth to me. We were born six days apart.
Then when we were not quite 3 years old we became neighbors.
Judy recently told me how happy she was when I moved in because up until then it was mostly boys in the neighborhood and Judy had three brothers too.
Here we are celebrating a hot summer day with Judy's brother, Jack, and a another friend.
I am on the left and Judy is next to me.
Jack and Judy celebrated their birthday. I still can remember so many of the ones in this picture.
I am on the far right on the top row, Judy is in the middle of the top row, Jack is on the left in the bottom row, and my sister even got in the picture at the far right (the baby).
I had such a crush on Jack at this age.
When we started to kindergarten it was so fun for the three of us to walk to school together.
What I remember most about Judy were climbing trees, playing baseball out in the street with the boys, learning to swim, and visiting in her home. I loved the smell of her house and seeing her parents share a glass of red wine before dinner. I remember the time Judy got caught between two branches in the tree and when I told my mom she thought we were just playing a joke and didn't come out to help. So I got her mom to help and then she got stuck too. My mom looked out the window and saw the fire truck there getting them both out of the tree. It is such a funny memory. How we loved hanging in that tree and pretending we were monkeys. We were constantly terrifying the neighbors.
I moved away when I was going into the sixth grade, but somehow Judy and I have always kept contact.
We haven't seen each other in about 30 years, but she will always be my "first best friend".
Happy Birthday dear friend, Judy!
******
Don't forget the give away on Monday's blog entry, the drawing will be announced on Friday.
I am on the far right on the top row, Judy is in the middle of the top row, Jack is on the left in the bottom row, and my sister even got in the picture at the far right (the baby).
I had such a crush on Jack at this age.
When we started to kindergarten it was so fun for the three of us to walk to school together.
What I remember most about Judy were climbing trees, playing baseball out in the street with the boys, learning to swim, and visiting in her home. I loved the smell of her house and seeing her parents share a glass of red wine before dinner. I remember the time Judy got caught between two branches in the tree and when I told my mom she thought we were just playing a joke and didn't come out to help. So I got her mom to help and then she got stuck too. My mom looked out the window and saw the fire truck there getting them both out of the tree. It is such a funny memory. How we loved hanging in that tree and pretending we were monkeys. We were constantly terrifying the neighbors.
I moved away when I was going into the sixth grade, but somehow Judy and I have always kept contact.
We haven't seen each other in about 30 years, but she will always be my "first best friend".
Happy Birthday dear friend, Judy!
******
Don't forget the give away on Monday's blog entry, the drawing will be announced on Friday.
Lovely post. Where can I purchase Nancy's book??
ReplyDeleteI would love if you and Judy met up that would be incredible. Thank you for sharing.
"Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weakness." Ann Landers
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. Thank you!
Best,
Bonnie
Sweet sweet memories! Love the story of the tree climbing! My daddy would not let us climb trees, he was afraid we would fall out and kill ourselves...but when he wasn't looking.....up we would go! So naughty!
ReplyDeleteLove the old photos too...precious treasures!
How beautiful indeed♥
ReplyDeleteOur glorious friendships through life♥
I have been hunting high and low for this book
I love you
Jeanne
Lucky you and Judy to have one another. What great photos and memories to have.
ReplyDeleteI loved hearing your "first best friend" story, Marilyn! My copy is on its way and I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteHow lucky that you two have always stayed in touch! I just love that photo of you in the tubs--absolutely adorable!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my place for a visit.
xoxo Gigi
What a special journey to share together. You have honored it so beautifully here!
ReplyDeleteI look at my nine year old and wonder which of her friends will endure the way you and Judy have. What a gift!
I haven't seen this book. But I'm always on the look out for great reads. I love your tree story!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Thanks for sharing your childhood memories. How wonderful to have such a lasting friendship.
ReplyDeleteSo now I'm sitting here, trying to remember my first best friend. I think that perhaps that was actually my cousin, who was just one month younger than me. Family is a bit different, though. Hmmmm...the first friends I remember identifying as best friends were Jan and Jane, who I lived near from 1st-3rd grade. We kept in touch for many years after that, but sadly it has been a while since any of us has exchanged greetings. Interestingly, I still have dreams about running, jumping, and playing with them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing a smile to my face today. :)
Cindy: A cousin can definitely be a first best friend.
ReplyDeleteJeanne: I found the book on Amazon.com
Hi Marilyn.
ReplyDeleteHow great is it that you have kept in touch with your childhood best friend? I think that is wonderful!
Thank you for sharing your memories with all of us.
Lois
P.S. Marilyn. I wanted to thank you for the tea. It came early last week, in the mail, but I have been too sick to try it. I wanted to wait until my taste buds were back on line and I was feeling good enough to really enjoy the tea. I will let you know when that day comes.
Thanks again Marilyn!
LS
I hope so much you are Judy will meet up in person again some day.....you have such very special cherished memories of those wonderful childhood days. Weren't they the best times?
ReplyDeleteNancy's book sounds lovely and I will look for it. Victoria magazine was best all the years she was Editor.
Aren't first best friends special? Thank you for sharing about your long friendship with Judy. My first best friend and I keep in touch. Her mother introduced me to my sweetheart! Now that's a special thing for a first best friend to have part in. She was in our wedding and we have shared our lives togethere over the years. I haven't seen her for a long time - think it's time to take a weekend trip to visit her soon.
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
Oh my gosh!! I LOVE Nancy Lindemeyer. I am just delighted to find out about your new book. Thank you so much!! Plus, I loved reading your reminiscences.
ReplyDeleteHi Marilyn - My first best friend's name is Judy too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet story! Wouldn't it be wonderful if she somehow read this post!
ReplyDeleteKatherine
I am honored to be Marilyn's first best friend and I so enjoyed reading the blog and everyone's comments. The pictures were a trip down memory lane, Marilyn, and it seems like yesterday. We could have fun with the simplest things and achieve such wonderful memories that are with us today. The girl with us in the tubs is Shirley Stange and I remember everyone's names in the birthday picture. Wow, weren't the birthday parties a highlight? Your blog brought tears to my eyes and I am so glad we are each other's first best friend. If our visit and tea work out in June we will definitely take our picture so all your friends can see us together, oh so many years later!!
ReplyDeleteWith much aloha,
Judy