As I scan the bustling theater lobby, my heart races with anticipation. I’m here to meet my childhood best friend, and the excitement of our reunion is palpable. The movie is about to start, and finally, I spot her. We wave enthusiastically and rush to each other. “Did you bring popcorn?” I inquire.
“Nope,” she replies with a grin. “I snuck in my own candy.” I can’t help but laugh and confess, “Me too!” At that moment, I’m flooded with nostalgia, feeling as if I’m transported back to that carefree summer when I was ten years old.
This summer is a delightful echo of my childhood. Beyond sneaking candy into the theater, my friend and I have been swimming weekly, indulging in peanut butter sandwiches, watermelon, and root beer. We stay at the pool until our fingers shrivel and our shoulders redden. However, we are no longer children; we are in our late 30s. By serendipity, we’ve found ourselves in the same city this summer, 1,400 miles away from our small Southern hometown, and it’s been nothing short of a joy.
Three decades ago, we lived just down the street from each other. Our days were filled with bike rides, sleepovers, sharing bus seats, and babysitting for the same families. But as time passed, our lives took different paths. After junior high, her family moved, and by high school, we had drifted apart. Despite the occasional hugs when we crossed paths, we lost touch after graduation. Back then, social media wasn’t a thing; our moms served as the gossip network. I remember her mother mentioning how she had married and moved to Colorado, and I felt a twinge of jealousy—she had escaped our small town first.
Years later, my husband and I followed suit and made our own leap to Denver, packing up our lives and relocating. It wasn’t long before I received a Facebook message from my old friend. “We’re moving to Denver soon!” How exciting! “Let’s grab coffee,” she suggested.
Fast forward six months, and we’re embracing our summer traditions like we did decades ago, but now as parents. Our children are bonding, and I cherish telling her daughter, “Your mom did the same things when she was your age!” Reconnecting with my friend as adults has been a delightful experience—I find I enjoy the grown-up version of her just as much as I did the child.
This summer, like all good things, is fleeting. Although Denver feels like home to me, it may not be for her. By this time next year, she could be off to another city. Knowing our time together is limited adds to the sweetness of our reunion. I’m living out a dream many long for: reliving my ten-year-old summer with my dearest childhood friend.
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In summary, this summer has been an enchanting revival of childhood memories with my best friend. We’ve rekindled our bond as parents while enjoying familiar pastimes, making the most of our time together against the ticking clock of life’s changes.