Finding A Childhood Friend

High School Graduation- Kelly came to visit





Kelly, Pam and Pat



When my sister Pam and I were in elementary school, a new neighbor moved in from Oklahoma. All of the other kids on our street were either younger or older then us, and most of them boys. At last, a girl our age, we were so excited. Kelly Jo Bridgwater was her name, she was high spirited and adventurous, and we instantly became friends. Her father Don, was appointed Director of The New Minnesota Zoo, in Apple Valley. I remember seeing a model of the zoo set up in their garage, as it was under construction. Her mother, Gloria, was a beautiful women, and her younger brother was named Johnson. The three of us were inseparable, we rode our bikes, fish and swam in the lake, and slid down the big hill behind her house in the winter. We even had a club we called "The Tigers", and converted an old dog house into our fort. I almost forgot, we made musical instruments and had our own band.  In 1978, the zoo opened and Kelly's family moved to Apple Valley. We tried to keep in touch, but back in the day there was no internet or email. We visited back and forth in high school, and Kelly came to our house the day of our graduation and we took a picture of us together. Then during Kelly's junior year, her father accepted another position, and she moved to Yukon, Oklahoma. Again, we tried to write when we could, but time passed on. Kelly joined the army, married and had two sons. My sister Pam married, and had two daughters. Pam named her first daughter Kelly, in memory of "Kelly." I got married as well, and we lost track of each other. I remember getting a letter from Kelly and a picture holding her baby son, Keith. She came to Minnesota in 1987 for a visit with Pam, but I was not able to see her, they went to Camp Snoopy with the kids. Over the years Pam and I talked about Kelly, always wondering where she was, and what was she doing. Then one night almost a year ago, Pam went into the internet and found her, and she was on Twitter. Kelly remained in the Army all these years, and holds rank of Sgt. 1st Class. She is a photo journalist and works in Public Affairs in Fort Eustis, VA. We finally reconnected after 23 years. No wonder why we lost touch. She lived in Germany for four years, had done tours in Europe, Egypt, Africa, and recently Haiti, and I don't think I have listed them all. Our goal, someday soon is to reunite and get back together once again. Kelly- Happy Thanksgiving!  











Pat and Kelly