15 years later

i'm never the one who makes fast friends. i stutter and stammer at the possibility of being the first one to say hello to a stranger. that being said, i cherish the friends i can count on my fingers and toes.

i have known these girls since grade school. they were my first friends at the big catholic school i went to. we were together, for the most part, until high school.

from L-R: cheri, khristine, eugelyn and lorie

photo courtesy of khristine abarca-bayron

after high school, we went to different universities. they were able to maintain contact, but i drifted apart from them. i lost touch with them and i never thought we'd actually get together again. then, the unexpected happened.

the hubby and i took jackjack to the mall one day last year. as we were walking, a familiar voice cried out. "si cheri o!" (look, it's cheri!) it was khristine who excitedly pointed out my location to the girls. it was an unexpected reunion, one that i never imagined happening. who would have thought we would accidentally meet up at the mall 15 years later?

phone numbers were exchanged and went our way, with the promise of meeting again. when we did, stories were exchanged. really, you're based in japan now? what, that dufus who broke your heart is STILL walking this planet?! i remember going to your house and finding a huge spread on the table...and that was just an ordinary lunch!

the best reunions are the unplanned ones. the type that takes your breath away with happiness and joy, along with the promise and hope that it won't be the last one.