The phrase “I’m looking forward to that” in this pandemic is one that we don’t hear very often. We can’t actually plan to do anything. In order to look forward to something, you need to be able to plan ahead for it.
I want to let you in on something. I don’t think that I would be alone in this declaration, nothing terribly new here, I would suggest, but here it is, I’m calling it, lately, I have been feeling kind of down.
Now, I reckon I’m a pretty positive person. I always try to always see the bright side and also taking time for mindfulness. I will admit it has been tough during 2020 and again this year. I think it comes down to the fact that in many ways, it feels like there’s nothing to look forward to.
This weekend, back at my old school in Melbourne, a group of “old girls” celebrated 40 years since graduating. Many of us had been at that school since age 4 and so for us, we celebrate 52 years of friendship. WOW!
Melbourne Girls Grammar School
If the pause of Covid-19 has taught me one thing it’s to stop, think and be grateful for the things that I have in my life and reflect upon the joys of deeply invested in friendships.
Fundamentally, I have not changed over the years, if I’m your friend, I’m your friend and that’s it. It’s a funny thing but actually, time and distance are irrelevant to me and always have been. I have a very long memory, mostly for the good stuff.
Covid-19 prevented me from traveling from one side of the country to the other to attend the main event. Frankly, I have been feeling very cut off from family and friends while strangely, overwhelmingly uncomfortably comfortable in our West Australian bubble.
Reunion via What’s App
One friend, who I have literally not seen or spoken to for 10 years reached out to me this week. Completely out of the blue she called and said-“let’s catch up” and so we did. On Friday, the phone ran hot, reminding me of hours spent on the end of the telephone line after school, even though we had seen each other at school all day. Later, that evening we all dialed in again, three other “old girls”, one in Florida USA, and two in Melbourne. I am super grateful to sweet Kate, for making contact with me. Our friendship has endured and that means something extraordinary must have happened 52 years ago when we first met.
