"To Old Friends, Great Memories, and New Adventures"

Darin used to have a

dark brown Welsh

pony named Chocolate.

That pony had a strong

gait and a weak bladder.

Seems it always stopped

to pee whenever it was my

turn to ride. One time he

took off galloping back to

the barn with my sister

on his back. She had to

crouch down on his neck

to avoid being scraped by

tree limbs. But despite his

shortcomings, Chocolate was

one of our best friends. So was

Darin!

A few classmates. Oh-so-70s, huh?

Brenda, Barb, and I spent

a couple hours flipping

through elementary school

yearbooks. Then we raised

a toast.

The parsonage, my

favorite girlhood home.

The carport out back,

flanked by a garage

and chicken coop. We

played house for hours

and hours.

Tires for furniture.

Boxes for appliances.

Towels for curtains.

(I always tried

to be the mom, but people

didn't like my bossiness.

Some things never change.)

Mrs. Grose,

my precious third

grade teacher.

Under her picture, "'Barbie"

as she was called.

Snippets of conversation:
"Whatever happened to

him?"

"Oh, he's a pilot now."

"Look at her. So cute! I bet she got into modeling. "

"I tried it, but decided the

money was better as a jockey."