I was an only child, much to my disappointment. And yet, when we moved in 1942 a new life opened for me with neighborhood friends. My dad had been the local high school principal and we lived in the “Principal’s apartment”-over the school cafeteria! The building had once been a country club (1920s) and been called the “Casino!” I can identify all the rooms from living there for my first eight years. I rode my bike down the long central hall! The living room had French doors opening to a “High
Porch.” It is long gone and the school – no longer the Catonsville High School as seen below.
It was an isolated existence and friends would be ‘imported’ for me to play with. However, once we moved to a small home in the community I was elated to discover other children close in age. I was entering fourth grade. A new acquaintance, Kathy Crook, was beginning third and we became fast friends; I soon considered her my sister and still do. Today, thanks to her granddaughter’s loving offer, she came to visit me at Greenspring. Seventy-one years of friendship and the memories continue to pour forth! We played house with our dolls underneath card tables covered with sheets. We tried copying pictures from coloring books that summer, got mad, made up, and shared about everything. We giggled during ‘sleepovers’ until my mother would call out, “ANN!” I loved going to her house where we would get Oreos or ice cream, and she preferred my house where there were usually home-baked treats. We met at the corner and walked to and from school together. Her family lived with her grandparents who happened to have a chauffeur. If it was raining, I would eagerly look for “George” although Kathy nearly died of embarrassment when she would see him pull up! The years have passed with both of us having “thick and thin” moments to get through, and despite our differences – which are significant – the bonding remains.
We cherish it and thank Amanda’s generosity for making the day so special. Karen joined us for lunch at the cafe where we all indulged in quesadillas. Kathy is recuperating from a knee replacement and is truly amazing in her fortitude and determination to keep improving. We both managed to walk the whole ‘quad’ without damage to hips or knees!
How’s that for friendship?!
Ann (Ann Zimmerman Kulp)
Kathy (Katharine Crook Heidelbach)
May 16, 2013 – 71 years later!
Amanda Wagstaff Karen Grumbles
What a beautiful, heart-warming story, so beautifully written.
A friend is truly a blessings. It takes only one true friend to learn to love a stranger and to feel loved. And it is in our friend’s face that we see the face of God. Thank you for sharing such a lovely story.
This is such a wonderful story. Friendships begun in our growing up years seem to come back just at the right moment. No one has to figure out how to reconnect- the bonds are there. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story.
I just loved this blog…I relived the memories with you?.what a sweet reunion…..thanks for sharing…..thoughts always with you, Love, Nancy
What a delightful and uplifting story. There’s nothing like “girlfriends.” I also have a friend like that, and even though we don’t c one another very often, we always pick up right where we left off… and have been thru many, many experiences together and shared the ones when we are apart. “Make new friends, but keep the old…”
Just to add to Ann’s blog… It was such a thrill to be together. Our friendship has always been such a gift that I cherish as much as Ann. We indeed have a lifetime of memories…everyday happenings, family trips, our own shared trips to England (first when we took Ann’s mom for her 90th birthday, a trip that Ann organized and planned beyond anyone’s wildest dreams!) and then when we went on the QE2 for one of her final crossings. Ann has always been there for me, no matter what. I just wish today that I had better mobility and lived closer so I could stop by regularly. In order to visit, I also have to master the Capitol Beltway and all that goes with that. Thanks to modern technology, we can communicate from our own retirement communities and that we do regularly. Our friendship carried over to the next generation, especially with our daughters. It was so wonderful to see Karen again, too. She is also special to all of my family…a gift beyond words. When Amanda, who is in grad school in NC said she would like to come for a short visit with me and offered to drive me to see Ann, you can imagine how thrilled I was. Grandchildren are also special gifts.
Life-long friendships are a special blessing, and what a witness and testimony to them you give, Ann. With longevity comes both the thick and the thin. Thanks to both you and Kathy for sharing your friendship with us.
Blessings of peace,
Therese
Ann and Kathy, you are an inspiration!
Dear precious Ann,
What a wonderful story about friendship and the things in life that matter – those we love and those who love us! And as you said, through thick and thin!
Thank you for sharing these stories and also your updates on your health. You have your own “pilgrimage of the breath!”
May you be embraced this day by the strength of heaven, the light of the sun and the firmness of the earth.
Love, Regina