She was a golden girl in our college days.\u00a0 A natural blond, she had
\nthe lanky Julia Roberts look before Julia Roberts had it.\u00a0 She even
\nlooked good in the awkward green pleated gym suits our college
\nrequired in the late fifties.\u00a0 \u201cBushy\u201d was one of the most skilled
\nwaitresses in the dining hall where she and I both worked.\u00a0 I used to
\npush myself to be faster in getting those bowls, platters, and jugs of
\ntea to the tables, especially when ravenous boys filled some of the
\nseats–and most especially because Bushy made it look so easy, but I
\nnever could win the race.\u00a0 Not only was she quick–she was quick
\nwitted. Even in the dining hall she had people laughing.<\/p>\n
Bushy made good grades too.\u00a0 I was always amazed at her memory.\u00a0 She
\nnever had to cram for algebra quizzes as I did, and when the grades
\nwere posted, hers were among the best.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t miss many social
\nevents either–and she always had dates.\u00a0 Of course, you could guess
\nthat one year she won the school beauty contest.<\/p>\n
Like flickering snapshots ,\u00a0 I still see her pretend swoons every time
\nElvis came out with a new hit and her twirls of delight in the red
\nvelveteen dress she made for a Christmas party one year.\u00a0 And then
\nthere was the time a friend gave her a home permanent and that
\nbeautiful blond hair looked like Little Orphan Annie\u2019s for week or
\ntwo.\u00a0 \u201cNow I really am bushy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
In most of the areas where Bushy shone, I decidedly did not.\u00a0 People
\nwho know me now laugh at the description–especially my husband–but I
\nwas shy back then.\u00a0 I rarely put myself forward in any way and almost
\nnever socialized outside the dorm, so it is probably strange that she
\nand I were roommates for two years.\u00a0 I thought it was wonderful for
\nme.\u00a0 Not only did I bask in her glory, but I felt included in the
\nthings I did participate in.\u00a0 I think I came to depend on that:
\nbuilt-in friends, guaranteed acceptance.<\/p>\n
Then came the summer Bushy went off to work at a resort.\u00a0 I stayed to
\nwork on the college campus and for the first time I had no roommate.
\nAt first it was lonely, and then I began to participate in a few
\nthings.\u00a0 I got to know more people–even a couple of boys.\u00a0 Sometimes
\nseveral girlfriends gathered in my room for lively conversation.<\/p>\n
Though we weren\u2019t roommates again after that summer, Bushy and I still
\ngot together for talks. I knew when she fell in love with the guy she
\neventually married.\u00a0 I think I knew before she did, because she was
\ntrying to talk herself out of it for a good while.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re not
\nserious.\u00a0 He\u2019s just a lot of fun,\u201d she would say.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s more fun than
\nanybody.\u201d\u00a0 Several years later I learned from my own life experience
\nwhat that means–it means you\u2019ve met a keeper.<\/p>\n
So Bushy married the fun guy and they had three children and from all
\naccounts had a very successful and happy life.\u00a0 We have lived in
\ndifferent parts of the country and haven\u2019t seen each other since May
\nof 1961.\u00a0 Fifty-four years have passed, but although\u00a0 cancer has taken
\nher, Mary Ann is still that golden girl of our college years.<\/p>\n
To many of us who know and love her, she always will be.\u00a0 Rest in
\npeace, my good friend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
She was a golden girl in our college days.\u00a0 A natural blond, she had the lanky Julia Roberts look before Julia Roberts had it.\u00a0 She even looked good in the awkward green pleated gym suits our college required in the … Continue reading