May 21, 2008

• I used to live in Panama.
  Yes, the country in Central America.
  We lived in Panama City, on the Pacific side of the isthmus.

  My Dad did business in the Canal so we moved there in the early 80's.
  I've never forgotten my wonderful memories and experiences as a kid.
  We grew up in paradise and when my parents decided to come back to the States,
  we moved back to LA.
  It was bittersweet only because I love LA but loved Panama almost as much and
  I knew I'd miss living in such a beautiful country.

  A couple years back, I made this montage for a simple class project in Photo class.

  

  I miss my childhood.
  Can you blame me for missing paradise???

  ...

  In Panama, I had a friend named Heidi. 
  She was my BFF.

  When we moved back to LA, I lost contact with her.
  I don't know if I knew as a kid that I needed to get her contact info... I'm sure I did.
  I think I had her address written down my diary but through all the moving and growing up, I lost it.
  In my young mind, I prolly figured that I'd go back there one day anyway and find her right where I left her.
  Haha.

  For the last 20+ years, I've been thinking about Heidi from time to time.
  I always wondered if she stayed in Panama, if she got married, if she had kids, etc.
  I figured she had moved bc her dad was an attorney in Panama as well as the States...

  ...

  Last night, I was studying 'til the wee hours of the morning and I needed a break so,
  went on Facebook and found my alma mater - Diablo Elementary's Alum Group.

  I joined and found a couple of people who had listed the names of the teachers that they had from K-6.
  Whoa, teacher's names from the past.
  It was so cool.

  Through the group, I found a kid - an old schoolmate named Quint that went onto Balboa High school
  (the American high school in Panama) and looked through his network.
  My intent was to find Heidi.
  No such luck.
  I looked for her sister Michelle... hoping that MAYBE, she went to Balboa or knew Quint.
  Nope, didn't find her either.

  Since my curiosity was peaked, I decided to look through every Panamenian network there was and
   it seemed like everyone who was there, back in the 80's especially,
  had remained friends and kept in touch.
  Amazing.

  But to my disappointment, I didn't find Heidi nor Michelle in the 4 networks I scoured one by one.
  It was 4:30 in the morning by this time and I almost gave up.
  .
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  Until...
  .
  .
  .
  .
  .
  .
  I found Michelle!!!

  I had forgotten what Heidi and Michelle's last name was (I know, how embarrassing) but I remembered it started with the letter "A".
  I hadn't thought about it in almost a quarter of a century.
  Aguila? Acosta...? then it hit me. 

  Michelle ARIAS.

  There she was.
  Her profile picture was tiny and she looked 20 years older (haha) but it was unmistakably HER!!! 
  And in her circle of friends, there was Heidi Arias.
  I almost cried.

  O.M.G. 
  FOR REAL.

  I sent both Michelle and Heidi a message asking if she had a sister named Heidi/Michelle and crossed my fingers that either one would reply.
  I needed confirmation before I got too excited.
  Michelle replied back about an hour later and told me that indeed she did have a sister named Heidi AND that she remembered me!

  I'm still in disbelief. 
  This is surreal.

  After almost 24 years of wondering about them, I finally reconnected with Michelle, my BFF's little sister.
  I still haven't heard back from Heidi - I hope she checks her FB soon.
  It would be so facking incredible to reconnect with my long, lost friend from elementary school!!!

  Little did I know that the Internet (& Facebook of all sites) would reconnect me with my long ago past.
  Only a few degrees of separation...
  I still cannot believe I found them.

  WHAT A TRIP.
  
  
  Anyone else have any crazy stories about the wonders of the Internet?
  Do share!

  
  

  • 8:31 pm
  • 18 Comments