Best Friend

It was at Fort Hood that I had what I call my first "best friend" as an adult.  We met at the weekly craft get-together at church.  You know how when you meet someone new that you like, you say something like, "Let's get together sometime"?  That's what Karlynn said to me.  I said, "Okay, you want to do something tomorrow?"  She told me later that she liked it that I wanted to set a specific date, not say that we'd get together, and then it never happens.  So our friendship began!

Our kids were about the same age and got along well.  We did all sorts of things together.  Karlynn and her children would come to my house; we'd go to hers.  We talked about crafts, decorating our houses, raising kids, and anything else we could think of.  When Bill and I went out for the evening, she would watch the kids; and we'd do the same for her and her husband.

I was fast at getting things done; she was a bit slower.  We started calling ourselves the rabbit and the turtle.  She even collected things in the shape of turtles.  Not real ones!  That's when I started my rabbit collection--not real ones.  We worked on the monthly church newsletter together.  After her husband received orders for Germany and they moved away, I worked on the newsletter without her.  It was not near as much fun.

But all was not lost.  About a year later, we were stationed close to them.  The kids and I went to stay with Karlynn and her family for about a week while we waiting to get an apartment on post.  The German hotel we were staying in was so small.  Later, Karlynn and her family visited with us at our place.

In 1993, I went to Washington, D.C. to attend a high school reunion.  I told you ages ago about graduating from high school in Itazuke, Japan.  Well, we can't all go back to Japan for reunions, so every couple of years there is an all-school reunion somewhere in the United States.  They've had them in places like Las Vegas; Arizona; Dallas; Houston; Florida; and Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  Anyway, to continue the story--on my way back from my high school reunion, I stopped in Kentucky where she lived.  We spent about three days continuing our conversations and friendship.  Below is a photo taken during my visit in 1993.

Karlynn was the first of the three best friends I've had.  I'm very fortunate to have had them all.  Now I hope I can find a fourth one here at our new place.

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A man's heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9