Good Times

If you noticed, I changed the picture above. It's me, and my good friend Julie Hutchins, back in the day. OK, I believe it was 1974, judging by that awesome haircut I have. They used to call us Mutt and Jeff, from the old cartoon. I'm 5'2 on a good day, and Julie checks in at 6', she's a California hippie chick and I was a dyed-in-the-wool cowchick, no holds barred. No matter, we just clicked and have stayed friends for many, many years.

Julie and I met when her Dad picked up his family and moved them from Anaheim, CA to little podunk Prescott, AZ. She was shell-shocked when I met her at church one weekend, still wondering what kind of hick town she was forced to endure through high school. We had just turned 16, and after Young Women's one night, a church group, I offered to take her home, but first of course we had to get a soda, cruise main street, etc. All I remember clearly is that someone slammed on their brakes in front of me at a traffic light, and I lit up the night with a blue streak of cussing- AZ style. She looked so shocked, and I was a little embarrassed, but that broke the ice. She realized I wasn't a 'perfect mormon' girl, and we both started talking about our lives. In no time we were hanging out most of the time.

I was in FFA, choir, 4-H, sports, and I was active in church, swearing not withstanding. She was, and is, an artist, and also hung out with the hippies in school, but welcomed me into their group too. Prescott is a pretty clicky town, so the kids around us were confused that a cowchick and a hippy could be such good friends. I don't know about Julz, but I took a lot of heat for our friendship from my cowboy buddies. I was voted FFA Sweetheart at the end of my junior year, Julie had so much fun with that! She loved to tease me about being the 'queen of Cowchicks'. We continued to attend church together, and wander back and forth between our different groups. Her friends accepted me quite easily, but mine were much more reserved towards her, but she didn't care.

Julie's parents kind of adopted me. I was 1/2 hour or more from town, depending on the weather and condition of the dirt road I lived on. On nights that I had play practice, or sports, choir, FFA, etc. I would often stay at Julie's. The picture above was taken at her place, and although that chair isn't there anymore, the house is essentially the same. Barbara and Gene were always so good to me, and Gene always had a joke for me.

There's just something so cool about old friends. They are an amazing gift, especially when they make you laugh, and keep you from taking yourself too seriously. I have a few of these marvelous women in my life, and love them all. Thanks guys, let's keep laughing!