Childhood Memories!

Me & Sharon M. Gardner-vacationing in the Grand Cayman's.
Childhood friends forever!

Previously, I mentioned that friends have a tendency to pick up where they left off. If ever a true statement, it fits this next scenario. My childhood friend Sharon, and I have known each other since the first grade. Sharon was the only girl in her family, with two older brothers. As a result, since she was the only girl in her family, she was able to have the 1st of everything...bikes, skates, converse sneakers, you name it, she got it first. However, I had to do a sales job on my parents in order to keep up with Sharon. Sometimes it worked, oftentimes I was told, "Sharon's parents only have three mouths to feed, we have six." True, but I was a kid, and I didn't know any better.  At any rate, speaking of parents, I adored Sharon's parents because they reminded me of my parents (very southern, very hard working, and very fiscally conservative/socially liberal). The one difference between the parents-my parents turned me on to traveling domestically, while Sharon's parents turned me on to traveling internationally. I first traveled out of the country when Sharon's parents invited me to stay at their villa in Aruba. Fortunately, the Gardner's traveled several times a year, so I was asked to go on Caribbean cruises, Las Vegas for New Years, New York for Thanksgiving, and last, the Bahamas for spring breaks. I had so much fun traveling out of the country with Sharon, and her family, and I really learned a lot about myself, life, and the world (thanks Mr. & Mrs Gardner (RIP)!  As such, Sharon and I were best friends, thick as thieves, and we attended the same elementary school from the (first-eighth grade), landing in the same classroom in our final year of elementary. She and I had so much fun that it was probably a mistake to put us in the same classroom together (lol). Fast forward to graduation, and I was excepted to Von Steuben H.S., and Sharon was excepted to Proviso West H.S. For the first time in eight years, the 'dynamic duo' would be separated. Not to worry, we would talk on the phone for hours. About what, you ask? Boys naturally! Well, that's not entirely true, we talked about joining certain organizations like the cheerleader's squad, track team, and of course we always ended the discussion on boys! After all, we were teenagers. We both met new and interesting friends in H.S., and soon it was time for college. I attended Illinois State University, Sharon attended Iowa State University. I pledged a Greek sorority in college (SGRHO), as did Sharon (DST). I dated a professional athlete, Sharon dated a doctor. I consider Sharon my best (childhood/young adult) girlfriend. She was the buddy that I truly enjoyed traveling with the most because our likes were so similar yet, I never had to compete with her for the guys because we understood, "men come and go, girlfriends are forever." Anyway, I miss talking to Sharon, but one thing is for certain, we will always pick up where we left off because that's what 'true friends' do. I ask the question: "do you have any childhood friends like Sharon?" If so, consider yourself very lucky...friends are forever!