My Long-Lost Friend

Her name was (is?) Emma Witherspoon. Many years ago…let's say 42-43, I lived in Madison, Tennessee. A suburb of Nashville, it provided me safe haven from an out-of-control wife beater, who I left back in Oklahoma. There, I met a wonderful young lady. At the time she was married to a police officer, and we became friends.

Emma was as close a friend as I ever had in those days. There was one other gal, Faye, something-or-other, but she couldn't really be called a friend. We went to breakfast some mornings after late hours at our place of employment…but that was about it. Emma, was a true friend. So kind and understanding. She had a listening ear and a tender heart. We shared many stories and went to places together.

I found it rather strange that she came from the same type of family I did. Her dad was a minister,  like mine was. She had many of the same struggles that I did as a child. Maybe that is why we connected so quickly. I loved her so much! And now, I can't find her. 

The last time we connected was somewhere around 1975…maybe a little later. I just can't remember the exact time frame it was when I received a middle-of-the-night call from her. She was crying, wanting…needing, to talk. Her marriage was on the rocks and she had to move away. During that call, we exchanged addresses, and I was able to send her a photo of our little family. Linds and Megs were very small at the time. Linds was almost 3 and Meg had just turned 1…or around that age. So, maybe the year was closer to 1985. I surely don't remember. She wrote back that she had shown the photo to others I had worked closely with, that she loved the picture and wish her life had gone the path of mine.

The years have taken a lot of the memories of those days, away from me. Those were dark days in my life and I think maybe they should not be brought up again. But, what I'd give to see Emma and reconnect. Just to see where her journey took her. And to ask if she is now, as happy as I am.

I've tried, over the years, to find her. And I've always failed. I've done Google searches most recently, but still come up empty handed. If I had a picture of her, I'd share it on Facebook…just to see what it would produce. I've done searches there, as well. Even messaged a gal that looked a lot like her, thinking it might be her daughter...but it wasn't her.

Where is my friend???

I'll keep looking, while bidding my time here…in Mary's World