Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 193

 My Lovely Friend for 45 years and More 

The year was 1980, my Hal finally had gotten his long awaited transfer back to his beloved Seattle. We had found a beautiful Condo on the east side of Seattle in the outskirts of Bellevue, Cougar Mountain, all in trees Townhomes. It had everything we had wanted. 

My Hal, while visiting his Ophthalmologist Dr. Milam had found me a job and after my interview with their manager, I knew I would like this job: I would again be working with numbers, accounting, the kind of work I like. The first few days, sitting in a corner in the hallway by a desk writing on a spreadsheet the numbers from the fee slips patients would give me on their way out and tallying them up at night. I also could observe the doctors going by and their assistants coming through with patients, going to different rooms. Some would give me a glance or a smile. 

I noticed one special assistant, as I found out in a few days, that she was the assistant of Dr. Reavelle, a lady named Karin. 

I liked her the minute I saw her. She was quiet, dignified and reminded me of my beloved sister Friedl. She wore a mid-leg length, two piece knitted dress in light brown, she had black hair, a nice figure and carried herself like my Friedl. I would love to meet her, talk with her and get to know her in time. 

Time went on and I got my wish. 

I met Karin – we met, talked and made eye contact when she would come out of her corner. We had nice conversations when she was between patients or on a break. I had such interest in Karin that I told my husband Hal about her. As we became acquainted, I looked forward to see Karin on the days she worked for Dr. Reavelle. 

It developed into a wonderful friendship while I was working there over the years. We would get together outside our workplace, enjoy shopping, style shows, lunches or a glass of bubbly together at the newly built Hyatt Hotel. All the wonderful things one does with a loving friend or sister. But since Karin was thirty years younger than I, it was more like a wonderful daughter. We spent hours together, laughing, talking, shopping in Seattle and never got tired spending quality time together. 

After 14 years I retired, the first time, but we stayed friends. It was then a great friendship between Karin, her wonderful husband Karl, me and my Hal. We had many memories together. I went back to work at the Eye Clinic some more years after my beloved Friedl died. Karin, my dearest friend had asked me. It helped me tremendously to manage my grief. Finally I retired and settled into that life, but our friendship continued, we got to be a happy circle of four great friends. Dinners at either homes, dinners out, maybe an evening at a concert or at the Rep. Theater in Seattle or an evening visiting together. 

Now, in my final years having lost my Hal eight years ago, feeling sad and lonely at times, Karin is always there in thought and often in person and with Karl. 

I am writing short stories for a website, another dear friend who had invited me to do this to keep my days filled with something meaningful and enjoyable for me. When the stories appear I can always count on Karin to write something nice or something complementing into the comment column. Karin is a lot of times the only one. 

Karin and Karl live now a three hour drive away from me, but they do come and visit me most times when they drive across the mountain passes to visit their family members or their friends.  

A 45 year friendship! A long and loving time in my life, which started with a glimpse of a lady in a brown knit dress, reminding me of my beloved Friedl. How Karin has enriched my life and still does. Soon, we can say, we have had this loving bond 46 wonderful years! 

Thank you from the heart my dearest Karin and Karl! You have enriched my life in so many ways.