From Vancouver WA to Crystal Beach TX

stephenson_0By Linda Elissalde
“Oh, it’s a long, long time from May to December.” It is also a long, long time from 1963 to 2014, and it is a long, long way from Vancouver, Washington to Crystal Beach, Texas. That is what made this visit most special. Martha Johnson and Linda C. Schmucker were assigned to be room mates at Lamar University (Lamar Tech) in September of 1959. However, they became not only roomies, but very dear friends. Linda was a bridesmaid when Marty married John Stephenson on June 29, 1963. They moved to Norman, Oklahoma where John, who had served in the Navy, was finishing college. After his graduation, they moved to the northwestern part of the United States.

The girls visited one day in 1988. That was their only meeting after the summer of ’63. Somewhere in time, each lost the address of the other. However, when Lamar University hosted a 50th Reunion in November, 2013, Linda received a list of fellow graduates with their addresses and phone numbers. Voile! There were Marty and John in Washington state.

The girls (OK, ladies) contacted each other by phone and began planning their own reunion. The Stephensons were bringing two grandsons to Texas in June of 2014. Marty planned the visit, so that after sending the boys back home, she and John could visit Linda and her husband Marcel Elissalde.

Both women were a little concerned. Friends can change. Friends can find they don’t have anything in common, or they just may not like each other. Not to worry! From the moment these two met up again, the joy and fun of sharing their lives never stopped. John and Marcel found they had much in common. The couples had a blast!

John and Martha Stephenson

John and Martha Stephenson

The Stephensons took part in all the beach activities. Together, the foursome traveled back to Lamar to marvel at how large the college had grown after they left. Everyone admired the beautiful new buildings, apartments, and trees that had only been little saplings when Marty, Marcel and Linda matriculated the grounds.

Dr. Margaret Konz Snooks and Danny Snooks celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June. Margaret had also served in Marty’s wedding. All of the folk met up in Galveston on July 2 to congratulate Margaret and Danny. Once again friendships and memories were renewed.

The Elissaldes bid a fond and sad farewell to their old/new friends on May 3, 2014. John flew back to Vancouver while Marty headed out to Florida for a 55th class reunion of high school mates from Panama.

“Make new friends, but keep the old,” are part of a song. How wonderful it is to keep old friends and find them to be made new friends again!

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