Tuesday, March 1, 2022
"Susie" and I go way back to the 1950s when we were pals in elementary school. And in Girl Scouts. Her parents and mine were active Scouts and it seems like we spent half our lives at Camp Laurel in Lebanon CT. We were true camp brats and took advantage of that to make our own whimsical adventures without a second thought. The other half of our lives we spent in troop activities, overnights in the barn, camping, selling GS cookies door-to-door. Going to Cape Cod, hiking on the Long Trail, sailing as a troop on the Brilliant from Mystic CT, canoeing on the CT River (we always got the heavy wood and canvas canoe). As kids we were rarely separated (except at the beach, where she could tan and I only burned) At one point we even had matching dresses, and in Jr High I was so flattered when we were mistaken for sisters. My visual childhood memories include Sue in every picture. She and her mother Peg were a touch of real class in our lives. In my 30's they influenced me to move permanently to the Adirondacks. (By the way, although she was an early 46er, in her adult years I don't think she climbed a single mountain. She much preferred the beach). The last time I saw Sue and Johnny, about 3 years ago, they were riding high. Happy doesn't begin to describe it. I'm so sorry we weren't in touch again until January this year, and of course, shocked by the events of the last 6 months. How could this happen to such spirited lovely people? Other than my own mother, Sue is the person I knew longest, 69 of my 73 years. That beautiful smile is etched on my heart forever.
