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Health & Fitness

A Story of Four Lifelong Friends

Always live your life to the fullest. You never know what tomorrow may bring.

There was once two friends who met in the first or second grade. Their names were Pat and Anna. They grew up in Brentwood, when times were good: the world was finally at peace and no one had much money. The two became best friends.

I am Pat, and my friend is Anna. We had such fun times. We used to ice skate on the lake across the street, and slide down the hills in the snow. All our classmates from lived within walking distance, and we did what all little girls did in those days. We were happy and carefree. When we went to high school, we took a bus into Kirkwood and along with several of our grade school classmates, went to Coyle High School.

In our junior year we joined Junior Achievement in Maplewood. We went every week, and there we met the "Maplewood Boys." They were Larry, Pete, Red, Roy and Mike. During those years, Roy and Anna started dating. The guys used to ride out to Kirkwood, and pick some of us up at Coyle. The girls in our school would say, "Those Maplewood Guys are waiting outside."

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I did not date anyone specific, but we all just enjoyed being teenagers. I can remember Anna, teaching me how to drive, and the fun nights we would have, all of us just driving around, going on the old Admiral boat, and hot dog roasts in the rocks along River Des Peres.

After graduation from high school, Anna and Roy continued to date, fell in love and a short time later they married. Roy had joined the Navy, and I went to Norfolk, VA, when Anna had her first child. Roy was out on ship at the time. I always liked Mike, but he was what you would call a big flirt in those days. Very good-looking and enjoyed the girls. Soon, 7 months after graduation, Mike and Red joined the Navy. Red's brother Pete joined a little later. Larry went on to marry a friend of his. I started writing Mike and we continued to write one another through the years. When he was discharged from the Navy, and came home after four years, we started dating, fell in love, and we ended up marrying also.

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Through the years, Anna and Roy had six children, and Mike and I had five. We continued to get together through this time. Our children became friends. We went to many high school reunions together, both Coyle High School and . I can't even count how many. Both Red and Pete passed away, and Larry and Mickey moved to North Carolina (I think. I have lost track of them). But Anna and I have been friends for more than 65 years now, and I have known Roy for over 55 years. As we got older, we would go for awhile without talking or seeing one another. But have always had a strong bond. We have been through many good times and many bad times together. The bad times have been the worst: the loss of my oldest son in 1982, the loss of my husband in 1995 and now, sadly, the loss of Roy, just two weeks ago.

Anna and I are now without our husbands, and for me, it has been almost as hard as when my husband passed away. I am not sure exactly why, but I think a large part of it is that it makes me realize how old we all seem to be getting, I also realize how hard it is for their children, as it was for mine. We know, Anna and I, that our husbands are now "up there," trekking down the stream with their fishing poles, looking for just the right "honey hole" to fish (as they used to do in their younger days). One of Roy's daughters said that to me the day he passed. But that doesn't make us any less sad. 

There is a lesson to be learned when you lose a loved one. Never, ever stop enjoying your lives and remembering the good times. Treasure your friends. Life is short, so enjoy every minute of it (and I mean this with all my heart). Anna and Roy were married for 53 years, and Michael and I were married for 32. We both had good marriages and good times, and we raised a total of 10 beautiful children between us. We have many happy memories and we are grateful for everything the good Lord has given us. I wish all the happiness we have had for everyone.

Rest in peace, Roy, and you guys catch a big one!

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