Saturday, August 19, 2006

Threads


One day, a person appeared in my life as quickly as she vanished. She left a footprint on my mind, that has never disappeared.

It was the summer before I would turn 14. The summer of '69. While at sleep-a-way camp for 3 weeks, I would meet a girl named Jenny.

She was smart. Really smart. A bit bohemian, especially for one so young.

I instantly felt a connection with Jenny. She was a cabin-mate...one of maybe 10 other girls.
But she was the one I was drawn to.

We would talk for hours. About nature, the meaning of life, the world in general.

I'm sure I had had meaningful conversations with friends before this, but for some reason, conversations with Jenny were different. They caused me to search my not-so-very-old soul for answers and ideas that I didn't know existed within me.

When we spoke, I didn't feel shy.
When we spoke, I felt smart.
When we spoke, I felt that every word that flowed from my mouth, counted.

As a teenager, I remember that the intensity of friendships was so thick, you could touch it and sometimes, even hold it. Perhaps it's the emergence of hormones, or the fact that identifying with friends takes presidence over identification with our parents. I only know that the strength of adolescent friendships knows no limit.

I would only know Jenny that one summer. A few letters may have followed, but the connection would soon fade.

Years would come and go, but I didn't forget Jenny. I couldn't help but wonder what had become of that young, bohemian mind. I simply wanted a glimpse, but would have to be satisfied with never knowing.

People weave in and out of our lives, much like the yarn that holds together a favorite blanket. And just like a blanket, those people keep us "warm" as they pass through for that brief moment in time. Without one of those people, there would be a hole left in the blanket.

And that is why I know now, that people are in our lives at specific times for specific reasons. Some stay longer than others, some even stay forever. But each one gently and sometimes, not so gently, weaves their thread, adding to what makes us who we are today.

Jenny is one of my threads. It's strange, but somehow I know, that without her, something would be missing.

Years later, I could not tell you the content of those conversations we had. But I have never forgotten that moment in time...

when I first came to know a deeper part of me.

All because of a tiny thread

named Jenny.

14 comments:

Baleboosteh said...

Wow! Another beautiful story from your past CM, you always do a wonderful job writting these posts.
Thanks for sharing your story, you have made me think of an old friend of mine that I was very close to as a young teen, but I moved away and we lost contact. I have looked for her a couple of times, but haven't found her - it seems it is not ment to happen, after all so much has happened and changed since then.

torontopearl said...

What Baleboosteh said! I like these walks down memory lane...

I might've said it already for a past post of yours, but I can hear John-Boy Walton as off-screen narrator relaying this story. It has a really warm, tangible feeling to it.

Yes, each of us have had interesting threads woven into our blanket of life at some point or another... It is like Joseph's Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!

Stacey said...

This was beautiful, CM, and so true. I have often marveled at that aspect of life -- how people coming and go, and how it's impacted me -- often in ways I wouldn't have imagined. Great post!

Jack Steiner said...

You can find Jenny at 867-5309. ;)

Claire said...

Awesome, awesome post! The threads are a funny thing, right? But they are what make us who we are :-).

cheated are the clouds said...

so cool and comforting too have a shiny thread from the past which is still viable yet today, nice very nice

cruisin-mom said...

baleboosteh: to hear that my story made you think of someone from your past, is so nice...thanks.

T.P.: J.A.T. D. ...great play! thanks for the John-boy compliment (yes,to me that's a compliment...I loved that show).

Stacey: thanks...yes, it's interesting to think back on the people who have woven their way into our lives.

wishing: so glad you have someone in your life like that...I do too.

Jack: thanks for that...I'm ROTFLMAO!!!!!greatest comment ever

Claire: thank you, and agreed.

c.a.t.c.: thanks! I like that, viable threads from the past.

cruisin-mom said...

Mia: that's so true...I never forgot this girl, even though I knew her for only 3 weeks.

HOH: the gang members! you crack me up, as usual:)

Regina said...

What a beautiful post, cm... how I missed your thoughtfulness in every story you tell. I think the trick for me is to value each one of those persons who comes into my life for who they are and what they bring- even if it is only for a short while. Being away for almost two months under really hard circumstances has helped me with that... thanks again.

cruisin-mom said...

RCJ: welcome back...I missed your always wonderful comments. Hope you are well, I know you had a hard 2 months.

millie garfield said...

Beautiful post. Got me thinking about some old friends that I am no longer in touch with but when we were in touch, they had a great influence in my life.

So many friends, so many years ago ----what a great post it would make----

Jeremayakovka said...

If this comes across as "intellecutalizing," please forgive me. But ... there's an important subplot in the novel Kaaterskill Falls that is very similar to what you came to sense and know through that long ago experience.

cruisin-mom said...

Millie: great post idea...write it!!!

JMK2006: would love to hear more about it :)

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