When I met her it was at a Young Life camp in Colorado. I was unhappy after the first year of teaching and was considering moving on when I met this easy-going, John Denver music-lovin' girl with the sharp wit and tender spirit. We became friends and I realized there were kids I needed to stay around for. None of the campers that summer were students of mine but we became friends and they always knew that my room was just down the hall and around the corner from them. Wendy and I became close friends. She played John Denver and I sang. She wanted a mural in her room and we taped and painted. When we went to see her parents and tell them that we were engaged, Mr. Ficarotto said, "Well, now, you know you have two other daddies you have to ask for this girl, don't you?" speaking of him and Mr. Presley, another friend's dad. That friend, Beth was my maid of honor and Wendy was one of my bridesmaids. We saw each other when she and her sweet husband-to-be were attending Clemson and later after they married and had their first-born, Josh. Then we lost touch. We recently reconnected on Facebook and the sweet friendship that started so long ago continues as if we're still riding around in the Hornet on the streets of Franklin, Louisiana, only even better. This is the design I made for Wendy who lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her mountain-conquering man, Clyde. She loves the song of the wood thrush and is hoping that the little bird will be living on the property where she and Clyde will soon begin construction of their log cabin. For Wendy
Comments