A Chunk of Life

Painting by Anne Donaldson

My husband and I went away this past weekend, and reconnected with a few friends. It's interesting when you do - with some it's like you can just pick up the threads and continue and with others you know it's not gonna happen. Recently, I was reconnected with an old high school friend through Facebook. Connie, if you're reading this, I'm talking about you! That was so fun, and prompted a trip down memory lane.

After I graduated from Wayne County High School, I moved to Maine to go to college. I didn't get back for any reunions, because it didn't seem important at the 5 year reunion mark. And at the 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 I was too busy with life. Wait! The 30 year reunion hasn't happened yet! Take a deep breath, Dixie, you're living life in the future AND the past.


After I connected with Connie, I pulled out my old yearbooks. Apparently, from what people wrote, I was "a sweet girl" which is Georgia-speak for "she's never done me wrong and she is nice but I don't know her extremely well." Then there are those who wrote, "You are crazy!" which is Georgia-speak for "you have a good sense of humor and you make me laugh."

As I turned the pages, I wished that I had stayed connected with some people - Lori Barwick, Diane Scott, Dawn Darley, Dan Harris, Terri Dann, Harriet Chapman, John Harrington, James Hoke Evans, Connie Dekle, Frank Charbonneau, Diane Tarbur, Betty Adams, Mark A. Nichols, Grady Driggers....the list goes on of people I remember as being positive about life and smart as well :-) Then there are the teachers who made a difference in my life - Mrs. Dart, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Dukes, and Mrs. Donaldson.

Mrs. Donaldson encouraged me to focus on art, and that has been a thread woven throughout my life. It is an outlet and a joy, and I am blessed to have that. I occasionally make some money with my art as well, which is frosting on the cake ;-) I have one of Mrs. Donaldson's paintings (pictured at the top of this post) in my "creativity zone".

Mrs. Donaldson gave it to me as a graduation present, and I have kept it through all my moves and changes over the years. I guess the lesson in this is to take a few minutes to keep connected with people you enjoy and to not lose track of them.