Are you the Giovanna Forte who attended Lourdes Convent? Reading this message on LinkedIn, I hesitated. I recognised the sender – indeed, we were best friends back in the 60s and early 70s but we all know the risks around reuniting with a lost schoolfriend and this one went back 47 years. After some thought and with much trepidation I confirmed that I am indeed that Giovanna.
T and I exchanged messages on and off for around five years and just a few weeks ago the invitation to her 60th beach party in Brighton landed for a Sunday afternoon and evening celebration. More hesitation; what if meeting her again is a disaster? The person who you last saw at 12 years old must have evolved into someone else at 60 … but who?
It so happened that the day of T’s celebrations coincided with a 50th just outside Brighton. My risk assessment concluded that already being in the area, we should attend.
A little jaded after a late Saturday night, HH and I arrived at the West Beach Café, opposite my late father’s Ice Cream Parlour on the Kings Road, where I recalled poetically that Back In The Day T used to meet me for a Forte’s Knickerbocker Glory, the best ice cream in town.
Stepping over the threshold, a voice called out Giovanna Forte! I looked around so see a grown-up version of T’s lovely sister … You haven’t changed! she exclaimed giving me a warm embrace before steering me outside to see T and Mum. Those in the know, know that my emotions are less than 1mm below the surface and on seeing the grown-up T and Mum yes, tears were shed. There was No Change To See Here, for T is simply a taller version of the 12 year-old I last saw back in 1976 and her Mum, an 88-year-old Fairy Tinkerbell … the nostalgia was overwhelming.
Tinkerbell is as lively, funny and charming as ever. In awe of her glamour I remember her as all big hair, frills, tight skirts and high heels. Now the heels are gone, but not the glamour or the chutzpah … she even did some impromptu DJ-ing and danced with the best of them. Our fellow welcoming and friendly guests were a lively mix of folk from as far afield as Dubai, Scotland, Italy, Switzerland, France not to mention of course … Hackney.
The indefatigable T and I had much to discuss and plan to meet for a proper chin-wag as soon as we can; she has not changed an iota and apparently neither have I. Our short snatches of conversation involved memories and much hilarity, certainly to be explored in-depth over a G&T or two.
Suffice to say, gentle reader, that when someone from your dim and distant past catches up with you a new, fresh and revived friendship can follow bringing warmth and yes, security in the knowledge that in the kindest way, life sometimes takes you full circle.
Happy Birthday Tricia!
© Giovanna Forte 2023
fortewinks 
I can understand your trepidation – I’ve met a few people from the old days and been disappointed to find out that their personalities have changed. Fortunately, like Tricia, some old friends have stayed the same.
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