A Special Friendship

Last week’s blog I was whining about relationships that come to an end.  This week I turn the tables and reflect on a wonderful relationship that spans more than 50 years.  I was inspired to this reflection by an invitation that arrived in the mail this week. 

At first, I thought it was a delayed Christmas card, but I knew I had received a card from her already.  When I opened the envelope, I was surprised and pleased to read that I’m invited to a party in July out in Washington state.

Gretchen is the hostess and I love that I was invited.  You see, Gretchen is the daughter of my dearest friend, Karen, who passed from ALS in March 2023.  Gretchen has lived her entire life in Alaska so it is not an easy thing for the two of us to meet up, but I am definitely making it to this party.

I first met Gretchen when she was 3 years old and her mother and I first became friends.  She was an adorable child who was filled with laughter and beautiful energy.  Over the years, while we have never lived near each other, we have shared some fabulous adventures together.  During my time in Alaska, it was helping to build their cabin on the Chatenika River.

Gretchen at 3 years old

When I moved from Alaska the next time, I saw her was when she and her mother came to Cincinnati on one of their many adventures.  They had been hired, along with a group of others, to drive new school buses up to Anchorage.  They arrived in Cincinnati a week before their departure so that we could spend some time together.  This was between June – October, 1976, Gretchen by that time was about 12 years old. 

On the Alaska Marine Ferry

 

During the summer of 1977 I met up with Karen and Gretchen in Portland, Oregon and we did a trip to Alaska on the Alaska Marine Ferry, the train out of Skagway into Whitehorse and then hitchhiking from Whitehorse to Fairbanks via the ALCAN.

Hitchhiking the ALCAN

                                  

Skiing in Colorado

From there I didn’t see Gretchen again until she was a college student.  We had a week of skiing in Colorado, then a week in France, then many years later, her 40^th birthday party in Anchorage.  By that time, she was married with a beautiful home in Anchorage.  She hosted me in her home a few years later when I was in town catching a cruise ship to Vancouver.  Then finally in 2023, for her mother’s Celebration of Life.  

Karen's Celebration of Life

I am so happy she has maintained a relationship with me, that we exchange birthday cards, Christmas cards, an occasional email back and forth and an occasional telephone call. She is truly a special person in more ways than one and we share a love for a person who is no longer with us. 

I can’t wait for July!