Lifetime Friends are special!
I have known Cyndi since 1986-ish. We met working at the Republic Airlines Credit Union (renamed US Federal Credit Union). I was actually her boss eventually, but we had a really sweet deal. There were 4 of us working in the office when I became the manager, located in Redwood Shores, just a few blocks away from Cyndi's house. If I do say so myself, I was a very "cool" boss. There were 4 of us who worked in the office: Tanya, Marianne, Cyndi & myself. We all worked together and I had no problem allowing everyone to have 2 hour lunches so that we could all have some fun. Often times Tanya & Marianne would take lunch together as Tanya lived close to the office & Cyndi & I would take a later lunch once they got back. Many afternoons sitting by her swimming pool. We both loved our sunshine & hot weather days were never in shortage in Redwood Shores. My boss was in the Minneapolis office, so he was usually gone from the office by the time we went to lunch given the time difference. It worked out well. We all got the work done, did what we needed to do. We had a lot of fun working together.
Cyndi & I would also hang out together often outside of work. I remember her teaching me how to drive a stick shift in the Great America Parking Lot after a day of fun at the Amusement Park. That is still the one and only time in my life that I've driven a stick shift. Growing up in San Francisco, on a hill, there was no way that I was ever going to drive a stick shift. However, in an emergency I can probably make it happen.
Cyndi was a Bridesmaid in my 1st wedding, we celebrated her 30th birthday on a cruise in 1998 and we were very much in each others lives for a good 10 years until she moved to Abu Dhabi to work in the Radiology field. She probably spent maybe 10 years abroad, we kept in touch via email & we'd try to see each other when she came home to visit her family.
She moved back for good, around 2002-ish. It was pretty close to when my 1st marriage fell apart as I have memories of sitting on my couch having "friend therapy" & wine! Though we wouldn't see each other that often or even talk that regularly, it never fails that we can pick right up from where we left off and it never feels as though we've been apart. We've met for lunch several times and it's never a short visit. I don't even want to remember how many bottles of wine we consumed at her house one Saturday night, but boy it was a fun time together many years ago. This photo above was taken almost 2 years ago as we cruised together for New Years 2018-2019. Our husbands get along, which is an added benefit ~ they are both whiskey boys, must be the Irish blood! We were supposed to cruise together again this New Years to ring in 2021; however, due to Covid she has not been able to secure the vacation time (working in the hospital) & in all likelihood this cruise is not going to happen. I am fully expecting cruises to be canceled through the end of 2020. I wish the cruise lines would just pull the band-aid off quickly and get it done already!
Cyndi called me today. It was quite unexpected & it brightened my day. We talked for over 2 hours. It amazes me at how we can just pick right up from where we left off & it also amazed me at how we can be so connected and think so much the same. We are like soul sisters on so many levels. She is a lifetime friend & I am very thankful for her.
