MY BFF CONNIE

Connie and Donna 2004

My dearest friend... I have put this letter to you in my Inspiration Blog as I believe not only have you been an inspiration to me in my own personal life, but to so many you have come in contact with in your lifetime.  You inspire me always to be my best, do my best and to see myself as God sees me.. and you have helped me to believe in myself even when I could not...   I love you forever dearest Connie!

Connie….Dear BFF,

You truly ARE my best friend forever.  You have been on my mind so much lately, and as I have been thinking about you and reminiscing about all that you mean to me it has made me want to write down how much I hold our friendship in my heart. 

 

The other day for example I desired some cinnamon toast.  I hadn’t had it in a while months actually... and everytime I do have it… I think about you.  I can remember our little studio apartment my parents had gotten us right around the corner from the UN building and near the “carry bus” to the Airport.  What a great location my parents picked for us don’t you think?  They considered you family and I remember having fun times at their Country Club and with their friends at parties at their home. 

At Mom and Dad's Country Club with Tom & Gwen

I loved the doorman in our building in NY who I believe sincerely liked us and kind of looked out for us, wearing his white gloves and hat and coat with brass buttons and epaulettes.  We barely ever had any food in our refrigerator because we were gone so much and when we were home we mostly ate out.  However, there was bread, butter and cinnamon for toast and you being a morning person would wake up with your gorgeous translucent skin.. No kidding I was always amazed that it was so delicate I could literally see your blue veins... so clear and pink and stunning.  I used to think you looked like Aurora in the Disney Movie when you were sleeping.  .. Anyway, you would wake up all bright eyed and bushy tailed singing and making coffee and you would come in to wake me so happily and I was like “NO ONE can be this happy this early”!!!  You would chirp to me “Do you want some coffee, a little cinnamon toast”?!!!!!  It was SO YOU!  And, then you would make it and bring it to me and sit on the edge of my bed and proceed to tell me the plans for the day!!! 

In California with Connie

But, I am getting ahead of myself… I remember the first time I saw you in United.  You and some other girls used to come into my room as I was the only East Coast girl in training... and a bunch of the Mid West and West Coast girls would come into my room to hear me “talk” with my accent!!!  I remember you sitting on the chair at the desk and when you laughed it sounded to me like little gentle magical wind chimes in a light breeze.  I had never heard such a sweet laugh before.  We all had such fun times and we all banned together during the grueling training sessions.  So much to learn. And, you and I were the youngest in the class so United wanted to keep the “babies” at home base Chicago after graduation for the first six months. 

Donna and Connie at Tommy's Christening Dad & Mom's

I remember we were learning how to bend our knees to pick up something and we had just gotten our uniforms... it was just about graduation time... and I thought to myself as I saw you bend that you looked so graceful.  Everything was so neat and in place!   

My United Airline Wings

After graduation we both had apartments at what they called “stew zoo”.  The first few months were a blur to me... I was so overtired with the crazy nonstop schedule and I was joint renter with about six other stews in an apartment... not even a bed as you slept in whatever was available... couch, bed .. reclining chair … depending on who was home from their flights.  Most of the time I was alone… and with it being my first time away from home in NY... it was scary for me.  At that time there was a “peeping Tom” who was tormenting the complex we both lived in.  One night after this had been going on for quite some time, I came home late after a flight and all I wanted to do was go and get some sleep.  As I was putting my suitcases in one of the rooms and was getting undressed, I heard a rustling sound.  I peeked through the window in my dark room and could see a creepy guy outside trying to peer into my bedroom window.  I just about freaked.  I went directly across the hallway to an apartment to a pilot friend of mine and he stayed on the couch that night to keep me safe.  I decided the next day that I would resign and go back to New York.  I was not going to get murdered for some job... even if I did love it.   But, fate would have it another way.  As I was on my way to the Airport to hand in my resignation, I met you and relayed my story.  You said, “don’t quit, come live at my apartment, there is plenty of room, and we can fly together and be safe”.  And, so I took your advice and the rest is history.  

In front of our apartment 42 & 2nd NYC

Oh what fun we had shopping together.  We must have been such a site together on the streets of NY... the petite blond and the tall brunette!!!   And we were real girly girls weren’t we?  On picture in particular stands out in my mind... one day we went shopping uptown and we somehow both hit it that day with things we loved... I remember we tried on a zillion items as usual and we walked home down the streets of NY with our treasures on our arms weighing us down, but happy as clams.  I think we went to Thursday’s that night... The one and only time I ever remember getting really drunk while drinking those strawberry whipped cream thingy’s in those huge marguerita like glasses.   Oh what stories we could tell huh??!!

Remember the gay guys next door who had such fashion sense and we would go over to their place and show them our new finds at times, and would all clap in glee?  What about the high priced call girls down the hall that I could never figure out how they were home all the time and had so much money to buy top notch wardrobes… You had to tell me they were call girls!!!!  Hahahaha   …Remember going to Greenwich Village for jewelry and accessories and that little coffee house... I think you and I were some of the first customers at Fridays .. and oh their awesome hamburgers on huge English muffins.  Mr. Laff’s and Phil who was crazy nuts about you.  Bobby and Lee and Art Carney’s son… the basketball player twins … that baseball player … so many super memories. 

We did live life to the fullest and we had such experiences… didn’t we ??   Hawaii and meeting my parents there, Buying Mumu’s with my Mom and Dad taking us all out to dinner.. That cute hotel right on the water with the great pool just outside our room?  Going to hear Don Ho sing... Polynesian Village night with the Hawaiian singers and dancers .. eating poi yuk!   And going to that tea room on the top of a mountain and the Pineapple Farm where they cut open pineapples with a machete and the juice just gushed all over... so sweet.. Never have I have a pineapple like it since.  Remember the Canlis Restaurant where they had incredible steaks etc and they had a sign on their baked potatoes.. “we are rubbed and tubbed, salted and hugged in foil and baked to perfection”   Can you believe that place is STILL there? 

I loved going to be with your family in Oregon.  Remember we went one time during some Rose parade and there were roses everywhere?  I so loved your family.. your Mom and Harold and being with all of them.  The thing I do remember the most about being with them is being so real and laughing so hard.. one time in particular sitting on one of the beds with your mom, Kathy, you and myself and laughing till tears came down with Harold saying … just what are you girls doing in there???  Hahahha  What about the time we stowed Billy away and took him with us on a flight.. what a hoot!!! 

Remember your brother sent you Rosenthal china when he was I think in Germany in the service and they packed it so well it took us hours unpacking it all!!  Just beautiful.      Jeannie and I giving you your bridal shower at our apartment and Jeannie and I made all the decorations by hand..

Our NYC Apartment Connie's Bridal Shower with Donna & Jeannie Grunburg

and oh remember going to the Jersey Shore for the weekends in the Summer. Who could ever forget that? Dancing on the tables in the Irish pubs…

hahahahha up all night .. bloody Mary’s  at that breakfast place early morn like about five am .. sleeping till three when the band outside our motel would start to play .. and it would start all over again!!  What a life.. “Life’s a Beach” should have been one of our sayings before it even was popular.. LOL!     I still haven’t has as good Chinese food as we had in that little place in Denver... the last time we went there it was late, we were so tired and it was raining cats and dogs, but we still had to go .. And what about UNO’s in Chicago and waiting in line for two hrs for pizza and that place in San Mateo where we had the penthouse two times and we had that wonderful pizza around the corner.  Oh my gosh, I almost forgot the food poisoning.. an experience I hope I never repeat.. it gave a whole new meaning to one bathroom in a home!

Who could ever forget my first attempt at coloring hair and you fell asleep and woke up to fried hair falling out all over your head... I was aghast and you barely skipped a beat... you had me go to the beauty shop in the hotel and buy you a wig .. and we went out on dates that night…   I bought a sterling silver alarm clock charm for my bracelet to remember the incident.  You had to go back to Oregon so this beautician could get some pure protein to put on your head while your hair grew back in as I remember.   I would have died if I had to go through that, but you took it all in stride!! 

Oh and the amazing wedding Richard gave you at Tappan Hill .. I adored your dresses and felt like I was in a royal court at a royal wedding.  You looked amazing.  You have always been so filled with grace and femininity, but especially that day.

We have been real best friends.. I have always been able to and still can tell you ANYTHING , and I know you will still love me and understand me.  That is a rare gift.. YOU my friend, are a RARE GIFT to me .. one I will forever be grateful to God for.  You are an amazing woman.  Your mothering skills have always astounded me. I think the thing I love the most about our friendship though, is that I have a real prayer partner in you.  You just seem to know what is in my heart and how to pray for me.  You discern when I need a across the miles hug, a word of encouragement, or when I need a good nap.. or a good cry!!! You have been with me during the best of times in my life, and the worst of times and our friendship has endured.  We are bonded together with cords of love that cannot be broken and for that I am so thankful. 

I can remember you visiting me in the converted barns in NY and I was drinking so much coffee I was like someone wound me up and let me go.  Raising four children and converting barns into a home at the same time.. had caused me to go “OH SNAP”!!!   You were so helpful and said .. “Donna, you need to stop all the coffee.. it has you spinning”… you were so right.. I gave up coffee at that time and everything slowed down to normal pace for me…

ahahhahahahahaha  

Or the time when you came to Charleston when Bart had his bad fall... what a ball you and I had together and what Holy Ghost encounters huh?  A God ordained time for sure.. I was so happy you were there with me .. I was so afraid of what the future would hold with all the physical problems from Bart's fall and do you remember you pointed your little prophetic finger at me saying "Satan made him fall" .. WOW~~ We have laughed together and cried together.

Connie, you have been with me through my ups and downs through all these 45 years that I have known you.  Matter how long it is between calls, we still pick up from where we left off.  There is nothing like knowing someone you have total history with is there?  You are so giving and have helped me out so many times honey and I am so appreciative of your love.  From Baby Christenings to deaths in the family we have gone through these together.. I am so grateful for the time I had with you and your gracious hospitality towards me and Maryanne on our trip to California when Bart died.  What a time of healing for me to have that time with you.. I needed it.

We are forever buddies, sisters, friends, confidants, pals,  and all that encompasses what friendship is all about.  I am so glad we found each other in this life.  My life is richer because of you.  My sister was four years older than me and I always yearned for a sister that I could do everything with, share my secrets with and my hearts desires (I do now have that with her).. I have always found that in you.  You have been there never condemning me or judging me in my life through thick and thin literally!!!!!  Hahahaha    You are a Godly woman who loves and cherishes what God has given her. You have overcome and succeeded in the midst of insurmountable obstacles, mountains and valleys.  You have stood when most others would have surely crumbled.  I highly respect you dearest one, and cherish our relationship.   I think you are an example of a true Christian woman my friend and I love you more than words can every express. 

Love…. Donna