I’ve been spending a lot of time watching our high school girls’ golf team lately because my daughter is the head coach. I love the young girls’ competitive spirits and their special camaraderie.
It made me think about my competitive friend Barb when I followed the young players over the bridge on #7 at Lincoln Hills Golf Course recently. I’ll never forget the sight of her sitting in the shallow water holding on to her pull cart. “Oops, I guess I missed!”
I don’t remember our scores that day.
Barb had a reputation for falling into creeks on golf courses. Once when we were playing in a Ohio Public Links tournament at Colonel Hills in Lima, she fell into a creek on #18. She and Sharon, another friend, were searching for a ball when she slipped on the mud. She ended up looking like a major leaguer diving for home plate, and everyone on the terrace balcony applauded her performance. I’m not naming names, but one of them wet her pants from laughing so hard.
I don’t remember our scores that day.
Then there was the time Barb was a little late picking Sheryl, Debbie and me up for a 4-person Scramble at Hawthorne Hills an hour away. She had a doctor’s appointment that morning. We were raring to go when she finally arrived because we were really looking forward to the competition.
We had a great time! Believe it or not, Barb didn’t fall into any creeks. And after Sheryl ran over Debbie’s visor that had flown off, we laughed hysterically because Debbie looked like Woody Woodpecker the rest of the round.
We were “ham & egging” it pretty well around the course that afternoon. When three of us missed a shot, someone came through for the group. It was on the last hole that really paid off. Sheryl, Debbie and I had all missed our 20’ putts, but Barb got herself all lined up & put it in the hole for a Birdie -– and a tournament win. We were so proud! After a steak dinner, they called us up front to award us our prizes – a pair of golf socks for each of us. I wish you could have heard us on the way home. I’m still laughing thinking about it.
I don’t remember our score that day.
You see, that was the last time I ever played competitive golf with Barb. She died several months later of ovarian cancer.
That Fall she did give me one of her golf balls to use at the Cancer Tournament at Firestone Country Club, since she couldn’t go. I bet she would have loved walking over the legendary bridge there.
I don’t remember our score that day.
There are so many mishaps & losses in life. They certainly add up over the years. But as I’ve aged, I've realized life is NOT about the scores, the prizes or the losses, but the joyous moments between the bridges.
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“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well -preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, “Wow what a ride!” ~Author Hunter Thompson
HAVE YOU LOST A SPECIAL FRIEND? (This blog entry is in memory of my friend Barb Best.)
It’s all in how you look at things…
If you know someone who needs some light-hearted advice about aging, please tell them about my blog.
I’m sorry about your friend Barb. I lost my best friend of 40 years. She was killed in a car accident in December of 2021. We used to spend hours on the phone talking. They need phones in heaven 💜
Jan, this is a beautiful story about friendship and cherishing times together. I have a friend of over 40 years, she lives in Oklahoma and I live in Colorado so we don’t see each other but only once a year, when we get together it’s like never apart. She is currently struggling with major health issues, we’ve had to cancel two different trips that were planned for this year. Hoping we can arrange a visit next month.