A- About 60 seconds!
Yesterday my friend Roo came to see us. We worked out that we hadn’t seen each other for 26 years. We met a couple of times when we were at primary school because our Mums worked together, we grew up in rural Cambridgeshire villages that were next to each other but each had its own primary school so we were in different schools and didn’t really get to know each other until we all went to the same secondary school in Witchford that had a catchment area of several villages.
We were in the same year but different forms however we were in the same class for several subjects and we developed a friendship that endured our 5 years in secondary school along with a core of four others, Sarah, Louise, Sarah, and Andrea. I believe that period in every person’s life from age 11 to 16 is a critical time for us, its when we get a real sense of who we are and who we want to be. I truly believe that for me, our deep core of friendship that was pretty much constant throughout secondary school (of course we had ups and downs – we were children after all!) really helped me to feel comfortable with who I am. Those who know me will know that I’m never afraid to have my own opinion or to ask questions when I don’t understand something or want to know more. As a group of girls this approach was nurtured, we didn’t judge or make fun of each other, we had fun together and supported each other. We had so much fun. We were inquisitive and excited about life. At the time, we had no idea how important what we had was and indeed we have all drifted apart in varying degrees but I hope that they value what we had as much as I do.
Roo arrived and we were instantly comfortable with each other. We did a lot of talking – there’s lots to catch up on after 26 years… and it felt great. We filled each other in on everything we’ve been doing since we last met and of course reminisced about old times. Its funny how we both remembered some things and there were others that we had forgotten about. How did we ever get a Radio 1 Roadshow in Coveney?!! We will definitely be meeting up again and may see if any of our other friends would like to join us.
This reconnection with people who have made an impact on my life in different ways and at different times has to be one of the most amazing things about this situation we are in. It would have been great if I had had the initiative to stop, think about and connect with them without cancer kicking me up the arse to do it however, it’s definitely a positive to chalk up 😉
Talk to you soon
Lots of love Mand xxx
