Coming Full Circle

A door we once assumed was closed has opened. During a recent visit to my homeland, Israel, a reunion with my elementary school friends was called. These were my childhood friends that I met over fifty-five years ago when we were our most authentic selves. Way before we learned to play the adult, sophisticated and pretentious roles. Those were innocent days of sharing joy, laughter, and tears, much like growing up with our own siblings. I remember playing games of hide and seek with no hidden agenda. While reuniting with these old friends, I could still see their eyes sparking with dreams and hopes for a bright future.
In anticipation for our reunion, we did not know what to expect. We approached each other cautiously, not knowing what each other’s faces even looked like. Have we changed much? The years took a toll. Our faces have aged and our bodies were moving a bit slower, but our smiles and eyes remained the same. We began sharing our life stories taking turns starting from our formative years. Deep scars were opened in all of us from this intimate reunion of five girlfriends sharing a meal, family style.
We learned that the girl who had the most captivating smile and seemed like a happy-go-lucky girl lived under the most painful childhood circumstances, growing up with a mother who was dealing with trauma from the holocaust. Another girl, who seemingly had it all, stylish clothes, many shoes, and piano lessons, felt undeserving and uncomfortable being raised in a life of privilege. Every wrinkle had a story. The shy and quiet boy who became an internationally successful architect building the most famous bridges in the world, could not bridge the gap in his personal life with his wife and children. We mentioned friends who got divorced, moved around the world, and had successful careers. We remembered those who never came back from their army duty Including the sweet boy with whom I shared my first kiss. A gal who was the most liberal and free spirited had found God and is now raising many children in a traditional orthodox home. The most handsome guy at school who had all the girls wrapped around his finger, could not find the strength to seek outside help and took his own life.
We got the latest updates on who did what, why, and where. We felt their sorrow, pain, and joy. We joked about our aging physical issues and compared our aching bones, but still felt lucky to be together. We felt good about our circle of friendship that was renewed. We had come full circle. Our camaraderie felt true to the core with unconditional love, just like in the good old days. It was a true connection that was not affected by time. We promised to keep in touch and create new happy memories together from now on.
Naomi Young is an educator of Jewish studies and a Bar/ Bat mitzvah tutor in Santa Clarita for 39 years. She is also a published writer and an artist. Contact her at naomi-young7@yahoo.com Visit her art website at www.naomiyoung.com