Ode to Lorraine

When God closes a door, He opens a window.....Hello I'm Lorraine, who are you!


I had finally gotten through what had proved the roughest four years of my young life. Graduation weeks away, the light was at the end of the tunnel. Everyone ordering cap and gowns and taking pictures, class rings, signing year books with tearful goodbyes and remembering secrets from sophomore year. Swearing to keep in touch with you and never ever loosing contact with a wink and half smile. These so called friends that would stab you in the back in a heartbeat for any social gain of their own on the ladder of success, made me what to run as far from this putrid hellhole and try and find some truth in my life. The days of skits, pep rallies, and pom poms were over for me and I was glad. I had been voted most dramatic by my senior class; I was tired of being made fun of for doing something that I loved instead of partying of Saturday night or getting stoned on reefer. I had paid a heavy price for being me. The one thing I loved about high school was the drama department. There I could be myself, or anybody else for that matter. We had a liberal thinker for a teacher, which made us all want to reach our full potential and reach for something better. That’s what I wanted something better. I didn’t realize that the choices I had made lost a childhood friend that would leave scars that would never heal.


I didn’t get to walk along side my best friend at graduation like we’d always planned. She chose one of her new friend that really understood her and the path she chose for her life. This was devastating to me, she was like a sister to me and losing her was death to me. She cut me out of her life totally. We had been friends since we were two years of age. Our parents were friends and lived a mile and a half from one another. Growing up, she went on every vacation, every camping trip, she slept over more times than I could mention. Every birthday party, every Sunday afternoon our families would get together and meet down at this creek and ride horses. Memories of playing in sandboxes and baby dolls were now just that a memory. We were inseparable. The only way I could deal with the hurt of this huge mistrust of feelings in my life was to get away from Weaverville. Away from the click, her click, so I talked to the guidance counselor at the school to see if my grades were good enough for college. I knew my parents didn’t have the money to send me to school, but I had heard about grants and loans. I filled out a couple just to see what would happen. I wasn’t the brightest bulb in the pack, but not the dullest either. I really had no idea that college would work out for me.

Making plans with my friend Lorraine to head for our senior beach trip was exciting. We were to go with a Civitan group from Asheville and we were getting a house right on the beach. I was so excited that I could hardly breathe. Taking a trip by myself or with a friend I had to experience, let alone with someone as outrageous as Lorraine. She and I had become friends through our church youth group and we sang together as well. She went to Asheville High while I attended North Buncombe. She was Blond and I was Brunette. We were complete opposites but we became each other’s salvation during high school. She pulled me under her wing sort of speak to a new batch of friends that went to Asheville high, during the hard time of Melanie. I think that it was all God’s plan really. He doesn’t close a door without opening a window for you at the same time. He gave me Lorraine. Lorraine was playful, funny, outgoing, everything I needed to get back into the stream of life. As a teenager it’s hard to meet new people and feel like you fit in. She made me feel like we’d been friends for years. She was bouncy, loved to dance, wore bright colors, and was the most fascinating person I’d ever met. I just loved her. One of her many talents was that she could talk like Alvin the chipmunk and sing the Christmas song in its entirety without breaking a smile. I of course was on the floor dying with laughter. She also had lip gloss in every shade and flavor, this I still do not understand about her, however, it’s something that makes her unique to herself and I remember these things and giggle and shake my head. Her pocketbook has a place for everything, I mean a specific place, as in her house. Never seen anyone so organized. My brain just doesn’t work that way, I do good knowing I have toilet paper in both  bathrooms when needed.

Lorraine and I have many differences in our lives, from politics to a multitude of other things, but the one common thread that remains true is that we have been friends for more than 30 years. I am grateful for the years of friendship and to have had the laughs we have shared. There is truly nothing like a friend that knows you top to bottom, inside and out. God made us all very special, and indeed did he make my friend Lorraine. Love you.