Pam, Tracy, Angie, Tipper
Yesterday I visited with one of my oldest friends and her husband. I was a bridesmaid in their wedding while Matt and I were still courting.
Tracy and Shannon have called Montana home since they were first wed.
I can’t remember a time I didn’t know Tracy. Her grandparents were friends with Granny and Pap and we went to school together.
Her mother and father divorced when we were very young and her daddy moved out west to work construction. I’m sure he thought he’d come back home, but he met a lovely lady, got married, and has spent the rest of his life in those big mountains.
Tracy’s mother went on to marry again too. I spent countless days and nights at their house. After I was grown her husband Bruce told me he didn’t know I could talk till I was a senior in high school 🙂 I was backward for sure.
They lived in various places in Brasstown and Murphy but finally settled across the Coleman Gap in Pine Log. Tracy and I used to wish we had a road that went over the ridges and through the gap instead of just a trail. A road would have gotten us to each other’s house in a third of the time it took to drive on the highway and would have aided our pleas for someone to drive us to each other’s house.
Anytime Tracy gets to come home I make a point to visit with her. Through the good times and the bad times we’ve always been able to pick back up right where we left off even though we go months and sometimes years without talking.
Since our recent visit random memories have been filtering through my mind.
The first time I ever went home with Tracy her daddy Earl came got me a jeep. I was so excited to ride in it since I’d never even seen one!
Right after the separation Tracy’s mother Vicky let us eat chocolate off the Christmas tree even though it wasn’t Christmas yet.
Playing Barbie dolls for hours.
Inventing our own secret code so no one could read our letters.
Middle school crushes and our first boy girl dances.
The devastating loss of Tracy’s youngest brother Brandon.
My disbelief when Tracy told me she’d met a boy from Montana while staying with her daddy and wasn’t coming back to Brasstown. Turned out she knew exactly what she was doing, Shannon is one of the best men I’ve ever met and they’ve raised a beautiful family.
Over the years the infrequent visits have connected our children to each other. And after yesterday Shannon and Tracy are thoroughly smitten with Woodrow and Ira.
What a blessing good friends are whether they live over the ridge through the Coleman Gap or way out west under the Montana skies.
Last night’s video: Climbing Out of Mistakes – From My Highest Hill 11.
Tipper
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What a beautiful story of friendship Tipper ! Thank you for sharing it with us ! Love & prayers for all !
That is wonderful, your enduring friendship with Tracy. Those friendships are so special. My mom has two friends like that, one lives far off and another only slightly. When I was growing up, they were like aunts to me. They had children of their own, and they were like cousins for me and my sister. When they’d visit, we would beg that they could stay the night. You’ve brought up good memories for me as you shared yours. Thank you!
It got cold here last night, our first freeze. My husband is so happy because it has knocked back the monster mosquitoes that had been biting both him and the milk cow at milking time. My girls went out yesterday and picked allthe flowersthey could and we brought them in to brighten the house. We got out our big blankets too,and much fort building is taking place in their bedroom. Wendy girl stays nice and snug since she has decided she only wants to be held not put in her cradle. Smart girl!
Keeping everyone one in my prayers each day! ❤️
Keeping everyone in my prayers.
Good morning Tipper and acorns! I’ve been very blessed to have friends I’ve known for 50 plus years. Sadly, we don’t see each other often, due to distance, but when we do we just pick up from where we left off. They are my blessings from God! I pray everyone has a great day!
Tipper, that 80’s photo was great and the hair threw me right in the WAY BACK MACHINE. You and your friends look so pretty and full of hope as graduates not to mention very happy too. My oldest friend Becky has always lived on the Virginia side of the crap town I grew up in and she’s still there. She never left, never moved, and never married. Now she lives with her baby sister. I’ve tried everything to “pry her out” of that town and she won’t even come to sit in a hot tub or go down to Songs on the Mountain at the local music theatre which airs on PBS. My doctor friend Sandra lives with her husband Cliff (hanger I call him) out in Montana. When I saw her last she was the color of literal gold from the sunshine there near Glacier Monument Park. The bottom line? I have heard all my life the Cherokees put a spell on the white man that he could never leave these hills and I for one have witnessed the fact if you don’t leave by 21, you’ll NEVER EVER leave these hills to see what it’s like some place else. I left and came back, but who’s to say where I’m going next. A beach in FL sounds awfully good especially with the winter coming on… I’m glad you saw your friend. It’s literal good medicine for the soul!!! As a female veteran with PTSD, I must say friends are few and my belief in others is less than that. I trust no man or woman on this earth. It’s been that way over 40 years now so one gets used to their new normal identity. Once I was funny, interesting, popular and outgoing, but that was a very long time ago. That person is no longer with us… I’m a survivor and proud of it. When I try to tell yall stuff, I speak from knowledge not ignorance so do with these clues to help you survive and possibly live or not. It matters little what anyone thinks of me. I gave that up over 40 years ago in order to survive. When a vet is trying to tell someone something or anything just maybe they should listen. Stay alert and live or don’t… it’s that simple. I get no joy in the tongue wag…just trying to help out the propagandized masses and leave a clue snack…
This post is so sweet!
There’s a great son that was sung by Michael W Smith I believe that stated “that friends are friends forever” when its blessed by the Lord. Some of my best friends, other than my family, still live in NH and Florida and we stay connected by the internet. It’s wonderful to see how our friends change and grow as they age. Since moving to Murphy 13 years ago I am amazed and blessed by the friends I have made from deputy sheriffs to county commissioners to the man sitting in the last pew in church. And you too are my friend. Have a blessed day.
Old friends are such a treasure! They know your history and are such a part of it. It is so important to nourish those friendships and make the effort to keep in touch. They will be a gift forever.
Tipper, it might be time for y’all to go visit Montana. It certainly is beautiful in most parts!
Good morning Tipper. I love your story this morning and your graduation picture. I have friends that I’ve known forever but my best friend (besides hubby) has always been my sister. We were a year apart in school and we did everything together. She knows all my faults and secrets. She is the one I call when I am happy or when I am sad. We play and laugh and talk just like we are still kids. It was almost like we were twins. As a matter of fact, when we played basketball, folks who didn’t know us asked if we were. We have never lived in the same state since we married, but we have always been just as close as ever.
Tipper–I’m not sufficiently computer savvy (in fact I’m downright inept in most all things of a technological nature) to provide a direct link, but I’d urge you and your readers to visit YouTube and listen to the song, “Old Friends.” It was written by Guy Clark and sung by (among others) Willie Nelson and Roger Miller. Or maybe you can provide the link. Whatever the case, I think folks will find the lyrics deeply moving.
Here’s the link Jim wanted to share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0OmFK38_ZU
Good morning Tipper! Oh, how I enjoyed your post on lifelong friends. As I’ve shared on here many times, I treasure my friendships dearly. People get such a chuckle when I mention lunch with my flower girl (just last Sunday and again tomorrow to ride around the countryside where we grew up and point out memorable places to each other) I was 14 when she was born and babysat her for the first time when she was but a month old. In turn, when she was in college 2 blocks up the hill from us, she babysat my daughter many times during those 4 years. “Boo” is now a grandma to a beautiful little 3 yr old granddaughter as the circle of life continues.
Debbie, I responded yesterday, but not sure it got uploaded. Might have been too late, but please know my heart love goes out to Little B’s family and friends. May that sweet baby girl rest in peace. Her momma’s tribute was truly beautiful. I cried and cried as I read it and clearly saw Little B in all of her glory♡
You and Matt should truly drive out and see Montana.It is truly worth the drive!!
Good morning Tipper. Loved your story today. I think you have alot of precious memories and life’s golden nuggets ✨️ Everyone should take a minute and enjoy the little things in life. We just love you and your precious family.
Old friends are wonderful. I have been friends with 3 couples for over sixty years! It was so nice to hear about yours!
It’s wonderful to have good close friends that you have known forever. I have 2 that I’ve known since 3rd grade in elementary school. We’ve been there for each other through good and bad times. Friends are usually there for us when family can’t be and that makes for a special bond.
That you have kept your friendship with Tracy over all the years says good things about each of you. Keeping a friendship across wide gaps of time and distance says neither of you have changed in the essentials of personality and character. There is something so satisfying in that for those who experience it. I have a few of those in my life; people whom have not seen nor talked to in years but am confident that were we to meet it would be as if we last saw each other last week. In the bible, Johnathan and David had that. They were loyal to each other to the last though Johnathan was caught between family and friend.
Tipper,
I really enjoyed hearing about your good friend. I have a friend like that, and some cousins, too. I wonder what people who only knew you as a “silent girl” back then think now. I’ll bet they really love hearing all that you have to say !
that’s great, there are lots of people I have never seen since I went to school, I wonder about lots of them, God bless them I hope they all know Jesus as their lord and savior, I forget the original size of our graduating class even though I didn’t even graduate, but the number of them that have passed on , I remember was shocking,I was invited to attend several class reunions that I could not attend, God bless old friends, it is cold today, upper 40s with a strong breeze, God bless you all and thank you for praying for me,
Friendship is such a special bond. Many times as close, or closer, than a sibling. How wonderful it must have been to see Tracy again! True friendship never misses a beat! So glad you got to spend that time together! God is so good! Your memories brought back many of my own. Our graduation gowns were the same color!
I want to thank you all so much for your prayers. I spent hours on the phone last night with B’s mamaw and she asked if I had shared it with all you prayer warriors. She wanted you to know she thanks you from the bottom of her heart for keeping them in your prayers. When I talk to her today I will share your comments with her. Allie, thank you for sharing the poem of the butterfly, I will send it to her. Randy, she asks about you each time we talk and she has been praying for you as well. The card you sent B touched their hearts. Each one of you here touch my heart deeply and I thank you for praying during the ups and downs of this journey. B was given her miracle when she stepped from this life to home. God is so so good and our grief is not without hope. Thank you Lord for this wonderful group of friends we call Acorns!
I have been blessed to have many good friends through out my lifetime and regularly talk to some of them. Some of them are from school or work and some of us from our church are literally lifetime friends- from the cradle to the grave. When in school, it was common to go home and spend the night with one another. One particular one during our school years, we spent as much time together at each other’s homes and family as we did with our own. We still live close to one another and often talk. He calls by my last name and will start the conversation by saying “just checking on you”- he knows I now have a hard time without my wife and health. I have known my “sweet potato friend” and his family since I started the first grade, not many weeks go by that we don’t talk to one another. I think of one high school friend I didn’t see or know where he was for about 45 years, until I took a chance on an online contact I found for him, it was a mighty happy day for both of us when we were able to reconnect. Last night I talked on the phone to one friend I met at work, we talked about our times of working together and of especially helping and being there for each other through some bad times- when my Daddy died on January 20, 1991 and his 12 year old son was killed in a cabin fire while on a church camping trip on July 5, 1991. July 5th was my Daddy’s birthday. A person without friends is a mighty lonely person, their friendship is priceless.