FLASHBACK FRIDAY
Renée asked why my Flashback Fridays had disappeared. I haven't even thought about it in a long time, because I haven't had the time to think about it! I keep saying I've got a lot of projects and things I'm working on, but they're not finished and I haven't had time to blog about those, either.

But just for Renée, I dug up this old newspaper clipping. (Click to make it bigger, or better yet, Right Click and open it in a new tab so you can flit back and forth while you read on!)I'm the kid right smack in the middle, leaning back on that yarn as if I'm keeping the librarian from falling to her death. And Ryan Edmonds is the kid next to me.

I remember going to the old Newhall (CA) Library for story time. I remember it had turquoise tile around the drinking fountains. And of course Ryan went everywhere with me. My mom watched him every day because his mom was a teacher. We are only a few months' different in age, and we were best friends. I think our parents even dressed us in matching outfits a few times (is that right, Mom?) I still have a tiny airbrushed tee-shirt with velvet letters on the back (oh-so-80's!) that says "Best Friends, Ryan & Susie." Which is pretty cute since I married a guy named Ryan! And just look at our haircuts. I think they were the same!

I think most of my high school classmates would be surprised to hear about me and Ryan growing up together, if they even know how Ryan Edmonds is. We actually gave him the nickname he went by--Guy. We called him "Ry Guy." There were so many Ryan's in his kindergarten class, he decided to go by Guy. I guess you have to be careful what you call a kid! It may stick!

We were best friends until my family moved to Philadelphia when I was almost 8. It was so sad to leave my best bud. But when we moved back to Santa Clarita 5 years later, Ryan had gone a very different direction. At my house, he'd practically been raised by my mom, and as such, he was much like us. He never really talked to me after we came back to Cali, but I heard a long stream of swear words come out of his mouth once. We just didn't hang with the same crowd. I wonder where he is now?

And get a load of my COAT! I remember it now. Fuzzy leopard-print. I think it was cream with black spots. I don't know if it was cool back then, but I'm sure I wouldn't part with it until it didn't fit anymore. That's the kind of coat a girl falls in love with.

I've been in the newspaper at least one more time since then. I wonder if I can find that clipping?