“You have three types of friends in life: Friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends for a lifetime.” ~ Ziad K. Abdelnour The folks on this porch are some of THE coolest people you could ever have the good fortune to meet. I'm telling you, their life stories are simply fascinating! Here's the thing, if you want to get their stories from their perspective, you'll have to learn to speak their language, and you'll have to be able to keep up with some fast-moving fingers, hands, and arms! Think you're up for it? Trust me, it's challenging......even for me, and American Sign Language is my "first language"! Are you totally confused? Keep reading. Here's the story... These are my parents. I love them with a fierce, protective love that is, quite frankly, beyond what many would deem to be a "normal" daughter-parent bond. That's okay, though, since we are far from "the norm." If this is your first time stopping by The Roomy Nest, you may need a little explanation via backstory. You can find that info in a couple of my previous blogposts here: http://theroomynest.weebly.com/my-blog/my-hero-is-the-strong-silent-type and here: http://theroomynest.weebly.com/my-blog/a-steel-magnolia-hits-70 Go ahead.....read them now. I'll be right here waiting when you get caught up. :) So, you see, bottom line.....my parents are both deaf. They met at a magical place, fell in love, and the rest is history! That magical place, aka, The Georgia School for the Deaf (GSD) in Cave Springs, GA, was also where some lifelong friendships were made with other fascinating human beings much like my parents, and those friendships have been going strong for almost 70 years! In fact, they all lived in South Georgia as neighbors for about 40 of those years, but the separation was necessary when my sister and I moved our parents north several years ago to be closer to family due to Daddy's health issues. While I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do, man, oh, man did I struggle with the decision. In essence, I was moving them away from these dear friends who are, without question, their (and my) 'family' as well. Here's Ann with me and my parents back in the 70s. She is older than Mama & Daddy, and she was in the upper grades at GSD when my Daddy arrived on campus as a six-year-old boy. She had actually graduated and moved on with her life before Mama got there years later, but, clearly, they were meant to be friends because they bonded after they were adults. Trust me when I tell ya', those two women should have been named "Thelma & Louise" for all the mischief they would get into together. :) Ann was married to the love of her life, Roscoe (also deaf), for a very long time. Roscoe is now with our Lord waiting on his beloved to join him there on those Streets of Gold one day. She has two adult sons (both hearing) and four grandsons. These days, Mama & Ann talk to each other on their VRS (Video Relay System....much like Skype) at least once a day. Here she is now... what a beauty....inside & out! Now, here we are with Janice & Clinton (also circa 1975ish)... The similarities between these two couples is remarkable! Daddy and Clinton both started attending/living at GSD as very young boys. Mama and Janice both ended up there as much older teenagers. The men did every sport offered. The girls did "girlie stuff" and batted their flirty eyelashes at their boyfriends. :) These days, Janice & Clinton are retired (Clinton worked at the same Post Office with my Daddy for many, many years) and they have three adult children...all hearing...and several grandchildren as well. Here they are now.... "A thing is mighty big when time and distance cannot shrink it." ~Zora Neale Hurston A couple of weeks ago, these sweet folks were all able to spend a few days together when the South Georgians made the drive to see their "friends up north" and oh, what a great time of reunion it was! They ate, they talked (hands were flying, by the way), and I watched them have a wonderful visit. We even took them on a mini-field trip around our stomping grounds. Take a look... Those BFFs even tried their hand with a Selfie Stick! Fun! :) "True friends never apart....maybe in distance, but never in heart." ~Helen Keller I am who I am, in large part, due to these people and the amazing influence they've had on my life. I don't know anyone more courageous than these dear folks. I would like to hope that if God ever chooses to take something away from me....my hearing....my sight.....that I'd have the strength and grace to move on with my life-- always seeking the positives-- like these five people have done their entire lives. They ARE the definition of "Super Heroes" in my book! “No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth.” ― Robert Southey So, Janice, Clinton, Ann, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for making the trip to see Mama & Daddy! It means SO much to us that you cared enough to come! You are our family! I love you more than you know! ...and for you, dear Reader, thanks for stopping by! Cherish your friendships....let them know how important they are to you. Also, let's remember to always give thanks to our God every single day for His Blessings in our lives. They are all around us. We just need to stop long enough to realize it. Until next time, ~Dot
3 Comments
Bobbie Gay
7/7/2015 08:01:13 am
Oh, Dot, how I enjoy reading about your sweet and amazing parents and their friends. Thank you for sharing. Please continue.
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Judy Coleman
7/7/2015 09:12:24 am
What a beautiful tribute to these wonderful folks who also touched my life in so many ways! For those who do not know them, they are incredible friends! I could never repay all the love and patience they gave to me when I became their friends. Ann, Janice, Clint, Mary and Kerry, I will always have a heart filled with love and gratitude for each of you!
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Shawn
7/7/2015 02:55:38 pm
This was so beautiful. I cried as I read it.
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AuthorHi! I'm Dot. I refuse to succumb to the "empty nest syndrome"! So, this is my journal.....my photo album.....my attempt to enjoy the next chapter of my life as it unfolds. Welcome to The Roomy Nest! Archives
January 2020
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