Old Friends and Companions

We attended a memorial service today for an old friend that I first met about 42 years ago when I first went back to work part time when my kids were then in school full time, in about the 4th and 2nd grades.  Sue Horton was a third grade teacher and I was assigned to her classroom as an aide for a charming little boy with a learning disability. 

Sue and I bonded, and as I went on to other  positions in my continuing career as an educator, we reconnected various times in various places, and renewed our friendship in retirement years. 

Our connection was through school, but today I learned more about other aspects of her full life of almost 90 years, and I met her lovely and loving family of grandchildren and great grandchildren and nieces and nephews of several generations. It was a sweet farewell to a loving and well loved friend.

Of course there were others there that I had worked with over the years and over a generous luncheon  we had a good visit relating stories from the past.

Although these were my people Tom went with me. Over the years many of my people have become his people too, and vice versa. After we got home we changed into our walking clothes and went over to the neighborhood park for a walk.

The sky was hazy but clear. After our first light frost over night the air was crisp and calm.

Dogs and their people were visiting in the dog park. 

We greeted other walkers who were out enjoying the increasing daylight of a mid-January Saturday afternoon. 

I was enjoying the company of my companion, my dear husband of almost 56 years, who I have come to cherish even more as I am facing yet another surgery, knowing that as my caretaker he will once again be there to help me through another recovery.

As a few lawn daisies begin to emerge and brave the cold, so we will brave this next challenge, together.