Old Friends

I got a call on Sunday from one of my oldest and dearest friends, Janet.

Janet and I met our freshman year at Abilene Christian University. It was a God-designed meeting - we sat together in our seat-by-last-name, 550-member freshman Bible class (she was Dampier; I was Daniel).

We connected immediately. We could finish each other's sentences, seemingly read each other's minds. We even looked a bit alike - people asked us if we were twins. We'd laugh and say "Yes, we were separated at birth; Janet ended up in Florida and I in California!"

We had the same taste in men - I think we dated at least 4 of the same guys, including her wonderful husband, Doug.

We shared a car for a few weeks sophomore year; she was in my wedding and wore my dress in hers 7 weeks later.

When Steve and I made our way back to college, she and Doug and Steve and I were immediately connected. We shared a VCR, and spent many evenings enjoying Giustiani's pizza and a game of Pictionary or Trivial Pursuit. We dubbed Steve "the nicest man in America" and Doug "the smartest man in America (or was it the universe?)"

And now, though we only lived in the same town for 4 of our 28 years as friends; though we have raised our combined 8 children not knowing each other; though the long-planned meeting in Nashville hasn't happened - yet;

Janet is still the first person I think of when I'm lonely;
I still want to know what her favorite song is;
I still trust her to be true spiritually;
I still admire and respect and adore her.

Janet has moved back to Abilene now. Doug's a professor at ACU. Though it's doubtful Steve and I will live there again, I'd still enjoy a Giustiani's pizza and a game of Pictionary.

I really hope heaven is the reunion party we dream it is!

Janet, forgive me for becoming a blogger - I know! I was horrified, too! But we could keep in touch better this way, and maybe, just maybe, we'll still have that Nashville vacation!