Always a part of our lives: Childcare Provider

Isn't it sad that people who were so important at a point in our life just seem to disappear?

My dad was a mail man (that's what they called them then...now they're called mail carriers) and my mother was a teacher (I don't believe there has been an update to that title.) When my mother went back to work, she brought my brother and I to the babysitter who "all" the teachers used...Justine Stouffler on Buttonwood Ave*. When we started, I'd say my brother was in early elementary school and I was with Justine full-time. I never went to preschool and the picture of me on my first day of school in my strawberry dress is in Justine's front yard.

I still remember little snippets of moments with her...riding in her car to pick another kid up from a school off of Route 202; lying on the couch in the living room when I wasn't feeling well one day; watching her make French toast; big tins of Snyder's of Hanover pretzels; and helping her sing "Rock a Bye Baby" to one of her littlest loves.

My first "boyfriend" also went to Justine's...Kenny Hershkowitz (do NOT quote me on that spelling!) I really don't remember him, but legend has it that when his family moved to Israel his mother confiscated my "love" letters to Kenny because he was so sick over leaving me behind. We were probably 6 because I do remember that he carried my books to class in kindergarten (probably only once...and what books did a kid carry to kindergarten anyway???)

I still remember the layout of Justine's house. I remember that her sister June lived down the street, and that they both had these "country" window boxes with seeds hanging in their kitchens.

But I have no idea where she is now or even if she's still living. I've tried searching for her online from time to time to no avail.

How is it that people who are so important to us just seem to disappear??? Gone, but not forgotten.

*If you're read this far through, I'm impressed. And if you went to Van Cort or Lincoln-Titus, this situation would explain why I went to L-T even though I lived in the Van Cort zone. Since I caught the bus from Justine's, I went to the school servicing her neighborhood. That made it kind of hard to make friends in my area, especially since my street was one of the few not part of a subdivision filled with kids my age.

Always a part of our lives: Church family growing up

Sometimes when I think back to all of the people I've spent time without throughout my life and all of the places I visited, it's sad to think that something or someone so significant at the time is no longer part of my life, yet still has a presence. Do you know what I mean?

I just came across the formal picture taken of my confirmation at The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Peekskill NY. I actually still remember that day. I remember standing up to answer a question from the Pastor and suddenly getting cold feet. We'd practiced and the answers were all part of a creed we'd recited since we were toddlers, but all of the sudden the pressure was on and I got tongue tied (I eventually got the words out, passed the public test and made my confirmation.) Anyway...back to my point...

I grew up with these kids. We went to Sunday school together. We had lock-ins and retreats. We went to confirmation class together every week for two years. Yet I don't know where all but one of them are (thanks to Facebook, Flora & I are back in touch.)

I get heavy-hearted thinking that people and places so near & dear to me might be gone to me forever. I do think I can name them all: Richard & Heidi Gibson (twins), myself (in my awful long hair phase), I don't' remember the pastor's name, Flora Williams, Stacy Nigl, Tricia Fox & Eric Froelich. How'd I do Flora???