History Lessons

Over the weekend,  the family took a dip into American history.  We probably only managed to wade into the shallow edges of what I felt was a vast ocean filled with stories of peoples, my own included (a handcrafted rifle made by Filipinos during the second world war was on display at the Smithsonian, along with a photo of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo).  Two days just isn't enough to take in faces, facts, legends, design--the list goes on.  We all agree that we have to make several more visits.

When we were packing up for the ride back home, I checked my email.  Among newsletters and Facebook alerts were two emails.  One was from a classmate requesting prayers for her mom who was in the final stages of Alzheimer's.  The other was from a dear friend updating me on the wedding of the daughter of another dear friend.  I sat at the hotel room desk, my mind filled with things not to forget while packing and at the same time thinking that this was history too.  This was my Timeline.

The two friends who had sent the email were friends from childhood.  We saw each other five days a week during the school year plus on certain days of the weekend for parties and such.  We saw each other transition from carefree preschool children to angst-ridden teens.  Some of us went separate ways after high school only to find one another again at school homecomings and reunions, through group emails, and in the last couple of years, through Facebook.  And now we are truly "midlife-ing."

On the one hand, we're still looking after our children and on the other, we're taking care of our parents.  We worry about both in different degrees and on both counts, we're faced with the task of letting go.  Our shared histories bind us to one another whether we are aware of it or not, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not.  I have had the pleasure of rediscovering old friends and realizing, to my delight, that neither time nor distance did much to alter friendships.  I could be as comfortable with my old friends now as I was back in the day.  The added bonus is that the wisdom that comes with time afforded us an even better understanding of one another.

I share the sorrow of my friends as well as their joys.  I know the importance of being able to step out of the wife/mom/daughter/boss/employee role for a few hours to do a fancy fox trot.  I even acknowledge the tendency to become addicted to Farmville (or in my case, anything that resembles The Sims3). I find myself saying a prayer right away when one of us reaches out with a request for one.  The history we share crosses oceans and continents.  No matter where we are, we're on the same timeline.  I don't have to try and emulate the virtues of past historical figures or get inspiration from heroes and heroines of the past.  All I have to do is to take the hand of any of my friends in real or virtual time and I know I'll do just fine!