I thought I’d have a go at some of the friend topics.
Do I have a lot of friends ? Social media would suggest so.
Do I mingle with a large circle of friends ? (like run around town in a pack ?) No.
Do I forge deep relationships with just a couple of friends at a time ? I guess so.
I have been thinking a lot about all of the friend groups I
have been a part of growing up. They have mostly been girl groups – maybe
that’s why love and relationships remain a mystery to me. Anyway, I'm focusing on the girl groups for now.
My first friends and playmates
were the children of my parent’s friends. One was born the same day as me so
we had shared parties sometimes. As I got older friendship groups sprouted in various places - mostly there was no crossovers. People were in that group, or in another group.
There were:
Neighbours, kids in the same street, or family friends and cousins
Kindy friends
Classmates
Brownie buddies
Skating friends
Gymnastics mates
Bike buddies
Mostly when I was at primary school these friend groups were all quite separate. I only saw the skating people on a skating night or at a competition, the same with most of the Brownies. Some of them were in my class at school, but maybe not in the same little cluster as me.
At intermediate things changed a little - suddenly there were Kindy friends back in my circle, some girls from Brownies materialised at my new school too. People who had been in my classmate group at primary school moved into other groups, and their places were taken by new people who had come from other primary schools.
Then at the end of 1972 some of my classmates became part of my growing penfriend group, as we moved to Wellington. I had to start again. Over time I had
Girls' friends - who attended Wellington Girls' with me
Train buddies
Rangers
Soccer teamies
Netball teamies
Some of these friends came along with me after school when I entered the big wide working world, others vanished and became distant memories. Then I had a variety of workplace buds (over time)
Bank of New Zealand peeps
Medical Benefits Fund people who welcomed me in Sydney
Mutual Acceptance acquaintances
New Zealand Electricity Corporation mates (young and old)
Westpac buddies - the CBA and the Wales'
the Yellow family
the Corrections crew
the international bunch at Hawkins
intermingled with these and sometimes crossing over like venn diagrams are supposed to
Parentline Hamilton,
Hamilton Day Care
Girlguiding Wellington; Pencarrow and New Zealand
Wellington Cruise Ambassadors
Plus there were the flatties in Sydney, the roomies and housemates, and just like my parents - things went full circle and sometimes the parents of friends of my daughter became my friends.
Donna M, Jo, Nini, Dot, Ann, Mary, Coralie, Jillian, Kay, Beverley, Cynthia, Maureen, Diane,Marie, Sheryl, Sadie, Faith, Jan, Denise, Lynette, Carey, Susie B, Susie B, Robyn H, Robyn W, Debra W, Debra W, Elva, Joy, Donna R, Julie K, Bernice, Donna J, Margaret, Linda T, Maree T, Linda R, Sue, Patsy, Nell, Juliana, Helen, Michelle, Barbara, Claire, Sigrun, Joanne, Jane, Beverley, Lynne, Debra B, Debra N, Debbie H, Deborah S, Vicky, Barbara, Christine, Ruth, Louise S, Selina, Sue H, Sue G, Josette, Heather S, Linda P, Sue C, Debbie F, Karen, Lynne, Sue, Tracey, Trish M, Cushla, Prue, Heather L, Fiona M, Megan, Michelle, Cathy, Cath, Debbie C, Astrid, Donna S, Jan, Angie, Louise, Sue, Yvonne, Jenny, Trish D, Debbie W, Paula, Lee, Sasulu, Jamina, Shelley, Ann M, Ann M, Linda K, Linda B, Kim J, Kim B, Rachael J, Cindy, Sheila, Kirsty, Jacinta, Jacqui, Ruth, Kate, Emma, Livvy, Belinda, Lizzie, Becs, Trish C, Michelle, Sarah M, Lianna, Carol, Julie B, Lynda T, Tanya, Grace, Fran, Coral, Cheryl, Margaret, Fiona, Rae, Shell, Penny, Julia, Monique, Glennie, Trish P, Louise, Louise, Anna, Nicki, Nicola, Diane, Sue B, Julie F, Jill, Carri, Leonie, Colleen, Nikki, Nicola, Cheryl, Margaret, Pam, Ann-Marie, Judy, Carolyn, Katy, Rhonda, Marianne, Pamela, Michelle, Sarah M, Sarah C, Miriam, Lara, Carol-ann, Yuan...and probably masses more I will remember as soon as I hit "publish".
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