Monday Memories: My First Friend

Hey, y'all! Monday may bring us back to work, but it also brings us one of my favorite memes and it's all about sharing memories! Y'all know how much I appreciate memories so you can imagine how excited I was to hear of a meme all about writing our memories! I, of course, missed the first one but I'm just going to combine the first and second memories together in this post.

Want to join in? Just click the button and link up to Memory Monday at Retired, Not Tired!

This week's prompt is: My First Friend

My first friend was Cynthia and we were friends all through elementary school. And maybe even part of junior high. After that, my family moved to a different town (WORST move EVER) and we lost touch. I doubt we would have remained friends anyway.

Cynthia was one of only two rich kids I've ever liked. I think that can be attributed to the fact that we were so young. And, I'm not really sure whether she was a true 'rich' kid or that her mother was a rich lady wanna be so there were pretenses. Anyway... her house looked something like this one. This house is actually one from her neighborhood. It might even have been hers. Grammar school was a long time ago, people.

Cynthia was the oldest of four and the big sister of three little brothers. I rarely saw her mother when I was around their house but their maid was always there. I never could figure out why that woman needed a maid. Even after all these years, I don't get it. I raised four daughters and never needed a maid. I know people who have 6 and 10 children who have never had a maid. So I'm thinking rich or pretense.

I remember that her dad owned the hardware store in town and that they attended the Presbyterian Church. I remember that her mother had dark brown or black hair and was short and that her dad had blonde hair and was tall and burly. Of course, these are the visions of the memories of someone who is nowhere near young now. Cynthia was built more like her mother with her dad's coloring. Her mother never struck me as a loving, kind woman. I remember her as always yelling whenever she walked in the door and I don't recall a single time she greeted any of her children warmly. At least not while I was there. Her dad, I didn't know very well either but he always struck me as kind.

I don't remember when I met Cynthia but I do remember that I liked her. She was fun to hang out with and her brothers were not as bothersome as some brothers can be. We had sleepovers and fun times spending afternoons together. I think I spent more time at her house than she did at mine. Probably because my mother worked outside the home.

The main thing I remember about Cynthia was the day that my family adopted three biological brothers, she was there. Well, technically, I was at her house and she and I were waiting on the call from my parents that my new brothers would be home soon. Cynthia was great about sharing her thoughts and feelings about being a big sister. She also gave some good advice about being a big sister.

That is probably the last time I have a memory of Cynthia. I'm pretty sure her mother had grand plans for her. I can see those plans including being sent to college in search of a husband. I went to college in search of further education. And a party or two. Ha! And then there's the fact that I have no idea whether or not Cynthia went to college or married or anything. I'll have to check with my dad or my cousin.

I remember other friends too, but Cynthia was the first one and the best one. At least for a while.