Remembering the stories: Friendship Gems-Connie

Do you remember your first roommate? Not me- ok sure, if I work hard I can conjure up my roommate's first name, and perhaps a few memories- but her time in my life was for but a short season. Ok, for just barely a semester or two...those conjured memories are far from sweet (giggle giggle).

For Audrey- her first roommate- would remain a constant in her life...and would go on to become a treasured memory from our childhood.

Meet Connie. As best we can piece together- Audrey and Connie met when they rented rooms from the same lady- a Mrs. Hahn I believe was her name. All I know for sure- is that Connie has always been a friend to our family.

From the beginning

to the end.

While the friendship started with Connie.

as the years passed it would expand to include Connie's friend Shirley...

circa 1970..

And before long...it was simply and always

Connie and Shirley..

Like so many of our family friends- Connie and Shirley would be more than willing to pack

their bags and join us wherever we happened to be calling home..

From the plains of Wyoming..

and the rugged beauty of Yellowstone..

to the charms of the South..

Connie would forever be a true friend to our mom...and to us..

Oh sure, we had a couple of aunts- and they were indeed delightful and loving...but with Connie it was different.

Was it because she herself had no children- thus had mastered the art of being a doting auntie without the divided loyalties of having her own children? Or was it because of her loyalty to our mom that made her presence so special.

In the end- It really doesn't matter...I'm just so grateful my mom had those special friends who said "Come on pack your bags, we are going on an adventure!