My mother Kate has several friends who she has known since they all grew up on the same street in the 1930s and 40s. Despite everything, they have remained friends and all are still alive and keep in touch as best as they can. They've been through high school, college, marriages, divorces, young children, mid life, grown children, in laws, old age and deaths.
In addition to Kate, there is Marianne, Betsy, Francia and Fay. People who know them call them the Wickersham Bunch. That's the name of their old street in Houston.
Kate was telling me about Francia, who is now living in assisted care in Akron, Ohio where her son, a primary caregiver, has been relocated due to work. I have suggested that we go visit Francia and hope that trip will come off in the future. It seems only right to keep that good friendship stoked, no matter the distance or condition.
Fay is living in Houston but basically housebound. Fay divorced in the 1970s and never remarried. She always had a good head for business and is self supporting.
Marianne lives in Austin with one of her children, and suffers from dementia. She is widowed from her husband, who also grew up in the same neighborhood as the Wickersham bunch. He was very successful in the car business, investing in a little known Japanese car company in the 1960s, called Toyota.
Betty and her longtim6e husband lives in San Marcos in a senior living apartment.
Kate is still in her own home and has been married to my father since 1961. Guess who her bridesmaids were?
No comments:
Post a Comment