By Sylvia Loran
I’ve often thought that weekends were meant for catching up on laundry, grocery shopping and that never ending to-do list. Now, I can add “emotional roller coaster” to the description. I have dubbed my September 2006 weekends, “The past, the present, and the future.”
On Sept. 15, I went to what has become an annual “B Club” reunion. The “B” comes from the maiden names of my dear friends from junior high, Bates, Bates, Baxter, Bayliff, Bell, Bitney. We are six women nearing middle age but holding on to our junior high memories. We formed a bond back in 1972 during roll call. We decided we needed to make a commitment to meet once a year, sans the husbands and kids, and keep the B Club ablazing.
Our adventures have taken us to Santa Barbara, Oregon, Washington, Capitola and, most recently, San Francisco. It doesn’t matter what the accommodations or destinations are, we make the most of it. Most of the time we have three or more conversations going, but that’s part of the fun. We are very fortunate to have remained good friends for more than 34 years.
Los Altos resident Colleen (Bell) Annen has known my twin, Rebecca (Bates) Skinner, and me since third grade. Pam (Bayliff) Lara, Linda (Baxter) Fermin and Lori (Bitney) Spear joined the unofficial club in seventh grade to complete the B Club. Each year one of us hosts, and next year it will be my turn in wine country. Who knows, we may try to crush some grapes or take flight in a hot air balloon. Or we might settle for some relaxing massages. It won’t matter what we do. The connection will be there.
Speaking of connections, I was recently in Starbucks when a complete stranger (or so I thought) approached and asked me if I were “Sylvia or Rebecca.” He obviously knew me. It turns out he was from Hyde Junior High and remembered me even though we haven’t seen each other in 34 years. He said it was my eyes. So all I can say to is make sure you look good at all times because you never know who’s watching you.
That brings me to the present drama. I have a daughter, Jacquelyn, who just left for college. She is at UCLA living her dream. I am so proud of her, yet I miss the physical connection. Her door at home was always closed, so now I leave it open so I can walk by and feel her presence.
Technology is helping me through these tough times. At 4 a.m. Sept. 23, I took digital pictures as she left home, the car filled to the brim with my husband choking back tears, ready to drive her down to LA. I downloaded the photos to my computer and e-mailed them the same day. My daughter sent me 20 pictures of her dorm room so that I could feel like I was down there helping to get her organized. We have also e-mailed, instant messaged and spoken by cell phone. I’m glad I got to go through this in 2006 when we can feel connected like never before.
I have now graduated to using cell phones for photos as well. I captured the B Club by the Cliff House in San Francisco and now have it as my background photo.
One thing technology can’t do is bring back my “little girl.” She turned 18 on Oct. 1. I don’t know what the future holds, but I have lost a child and gained a new adult friend.
My September weekends were filled with a lot of different emotions. I’m hoping during my October weekends I’ll get to my to-do list!
Sylvia Loran is a Town Crier staff member.
