Finding Connections in My Address Books
Sharon Goerg
As I was setting up a new address book ( my daughters have informed me that they have all their contacts and addresses on their phones ), I realized that this task was necessary because of changes in my life , like the passing away of family and friends or the additions of new addresses . I came to understand , however , that an address book can bring forth memories . So take out your address book ( fancy , plain , big , small , new , worn ) and let ’ s begin with the possibilities .
In the B section I see the name of my best friend in high school ( still a good friend ). Seeing her name always makes me smile and reminds me of our fun times in high school . We have never lost contact and continue to visit and email each other after many years . Recently we both lost our husbands , so we recall humorous incidents to make us laugh rather than cry .
Next , in the C area of my address book , I see a name I never cross off even though contact hasn ’ t been established for perhaps thirty years . When we
spent a year in Ireland with our young daughters , we met a British couple and their three children . We were all in a new country with our young families , and a bond developed . We later learned that after we returned to the States , they returned to England where the husband vanished one day on his way to a university class . A whole mystery is part of this entry in the address book .
Throughout my address book are crossed off names of relatives and friends who have passed away or who are no longer part of my life . My address book did not look this way when I was younger . I imagine there will be more crossing off of names and addresses ahead for me .
I notice in the G and H sections there are names with question marks beside them . These are people my husband and I met on various trips and now I do not know their locations . For some reason I can ’ t delete their names . I don ’ t want to forget that at
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