I Miss.....

I was musing the other day, about the many people I miss now. I understand that people come into your life for a particular purpose, to teach you something, to learn something from you. And without fail they do leave an impression on you. You know when they leave they are suppose to go, after the initial grief is over. This could be over a person that passes from your life and goes to another country, state, or even someone who has passed on from this mortal life.
I was born in Missouri, and lived in a nice neighborhood with a small grocery store that was just about a quarter of a mile away, if that. There were kids on the block that I was friends with. We moved away from Missouri when I was 11, to Denver, Colorado.
I miss the freedom of that childhood. I miss riding down the street on my bicycle, wind blowing my hair out behind me. I miss the times my mom would let us walk up to the store and spending 10 cents on candy. Its amazing that we were allowed to do that at 8 years old. These days you can't let your child out of your sight for even a second, because of the evil,disgusting people out there.
I miss my two girlfriends, Beth Smith and Teresa Thompson. I know they must have different last names now, I lost touch with Beth when I turned about 17, we would write but then life caught up and we didn't anymore. Every once in a while I hear from Teresa, and that is always such a wonderful encounter, but then life takes hold again, and we don't remain in touch.
I miss the job I had at an amusement park in Denver. It has moved to a more lucrative location, a big named company purchased it and made it bigger. But it seemed to have lost the romance and excitement of youth. I was a young teenager when I worked there, and my first series of boyfriends began there, Nathan Sorheim, Hunter Macklin, David Kish. Oh, the silliness of teen romances. I miss singing to Air Supply songs in my friend Beth Connor's car. I miss working doubles at the park and having her spend the night at my house, because we had a curfew at my house, we actually got some sleep. I miss hanging out with her and Justin Lang, Kevin Bisant, and Dave Evans. We had silly fun. I didn't know that I liked Ska music till much later. I've always known that I love most any song from the 80's. I miss the 2 people that I shared a locker with in Highschool, Jeff Lowe and Kathy Haddad. I have heard from a boy I went to Junior High and HighSchool with, Ted Struzeski, how nice to catch up, and how sad to hear of the people from our class who have passed on.
I miss playing sports on my Church's basketball, volleyball and softball teams. We were the best congregation/ward in the area. It was fun being part of the winning team. We lost plenty, but it was certainly fun to win. I miss going to Church dances with Amy Steck and having a competition of how many boys we could get to dance with us. I miss Blair Cecil and Jon Habedank.
I miss the girls I roomed with in my couple of years in College. The first year was especially significant. I miss Wendy Rogers, Elaine Van Orden, Peggy Watson and Rebekha Combs. I grew spiritually large that year, and learned alot about my self. I miss Peter Mortenson, Dave Crowder and Kent Smedley,and Mike Turley. These were true gentlemen and fun friends. The next year was off campus housing and another learning time. I miss Dawn and Rick Erickson and Adam Robertson, and Steve Tueller, Rod Steiner, Eric Anderson, Roy Johnson, Howard Nelson, I left at the semester break because I didn't have enough money to continue, but when I came back, I was lucky to be in the same apartment from the year before, but a different set of roommate, and I miss Deanna Menssen, Brenda Eames, Sorena Green, Brenda Smith, and even Teresa McClure. I miss the basketball team coming over at 2 am and waking us up, and talking about goofey things.
I miss the group of young adults I went to Church with in Arvada, Colorado. I miss Betty Parsons, Don Atwood, Eddy Hansen. I miss Joey Harmon, I miss Nancy.
I miss alot of the people that I met in Dallas, Texas. I miss Desiree Davis and her son Ross. I miss Elizabeth Bushman, Elise Peterson, Greg Richmond,Benny Haddon and Robert Knewstub, Cindy Szarek, Nick and Marci Gower, Graham Lloyd.
I miss our neighbors in Colorado, John and Karen Mclaughlin, Duane and Ester Burney, Kim and Wes Bollinger, Sue and Ralph Beckwith. The people after I became a wife are just as important to me as those who knew me as a single woman.
These are the people that I feel have influenced the kind of person that I am today. They taught me many things. Bittersweet, sad, happy, memories of experiences with each person. Joy, happiness, love and kind thoughts for everyone of these people.
I may have taught them something, I hope it was a good lesson, but even if it wasn't it was purposeful. There are many more people I miss, but I don't dwell on the feelings long....just bask for a moment in the remembrances that come.

And hey if you are any of these people....send me an email. I'd love to hear from you.