A Call from an Old Friend

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This is a true story about a friend here at Soup who quit coming here around three years ago. Despite my many emails and letters, she never responded to me. I heard from her out of the blue last month. I doubt I will hear from her again because I think she called me on a day when she happened to be lucid.

For Joseph May's Rhymes In Nine Poetry Contest / Hope I did this right!

_______________________________________________________________________

Her voice on the phone made me rejoice.
although her call was long delayed, my heart sang a song that day.
She called me with no prompting! It was her choice.

Some several years had come and gone, but this old friend
at last, like a ghost from her sad past, called to say
no poems she'd penned. Unwell she'd been. I’d thought we’d had our end!

My letters she had gotten; I’d not been forgotten after all.
She had no ruse, for her sad news was that dementia had found its way
inside her mind. Life’s been unkind – I learned from my friend’s call.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024



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Date: 9/27/2024 10:16:00 PM
Nicely penned rhyme to rejoice.
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Date: 9/27/2024 12:09:00 PM
Always good to hear from old friends, Very nicely penned Andrea, Congrats on your win
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/27/2024 12:57:00 PM
Thanks so much, Joseph
Date: 9/19/2024 12:05:00 PM
Sometimes when we don’t hear from people our minds can go into overdrive. Have I upset them? Did I write something they didn’t like? It’s only when you find out the real truth that perhaps you weren’t expecting that it hits home. Just like your powerful poem does here. I thought I may have upset a nurse I trained with until I dug deeper last year and found out he died some years back. Talk about guilt and sadness. Cheers - Gary
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Date: 9/18/2024 12:39:00 PM
How sad Andrea..' Did you get what type it was? If its m s induced, there is I beleive a treatment That has had success although have not Followed it up for five/six years? My sympathy Is with you both.'
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/18/2024 1:18:00 PM
For many many years she has suffered "concussion" symptoms such as brain fog . This has affected her writing sometimes, but now I think it will REALLY affect her writing if she ever finds a way back on here. Not surprisingly to ME, the dementia verdict came around 2021 or 22, just about the time I stopped hearing from her. So I am not surpised, and I think you can guess why. (she supports things that I do not support)
Date: 9/16/2024 11:07:00 AM
Nice poem. Hearni from a friend brings back memories.
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Date: 9/16/2024 9:14:00 AM
Dear Andrea, I was jumping for joy that your old friend reached out without prompting. Then the twist of dementia leaves us with a sadness of life. My mother-in-law died from Alzheimer's and it was a sad situation. Good luck in the contest. - Blessings, MY Friend, Daniel
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/18/2024 1:20:00 PM
sorry about your mother-in-law. It's a real hardship on both the victim as well as the caretakers. My mom was in denial about my stepfather having it. We had to step in and make her see that he needed to be in a rest home.
Date: 9/16/2024 8:36:00 AM
Think many will identify with your poem Andrea, they have good days and bad. Tom
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/18/2024 1:21:00 PM
thanks, Tom
Date: 9/16/2024 5:42:00 AM
Brilliant write with great rhymes as required in the contest. It's a pity about dementia. I know first-hand what it means. Hugs.
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/18/2024 1:21:00 PM
yes, you well know, Victor. You are a saint for what you have had to deal with.
Date: 9/15/2024 6:36:00 PM
Aw, that's too bad. It's good she was able to reach out for that one call.
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/18/2024 1:21:00 PM
Yes, I must call her back . October sometime is her birthday
Date: 9/15/2024 4:42:00 PM
Andrea, this is a touching poem. I feel a lot of caring between the lines and compassion. It was a poem of empathy and rhyme.
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/15/2024 5:01:00 PM
thanks, Mike.
Date: 9/15/2024 1:49:00 PM
Dear andrea, its so nice to read this, see you write about her, now thats what a poet would do, immortalise thoughts and experiences, you are an amazing friend, one that i am also lucky to have and know! And i must say i love the way youv written this! Another contest i need to do and im excited to try! Lets see . And its sad your friend has dementia! Sigh! Pleasure reading this’ sending you light always
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/15/2024 4:29:00 PM
Good luck with this challenge. I know how overwhelming rhyme can be for you
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/15/2024 4:27:00 PM
Thanks, Ink, and yes, in the old days i used poetry a lot more to immortalise my experiences and memories of good old days. I kind of ran out of things to write, so that's why I am so into the contests for inspiration
Date: 9/15/2024 1:12:00 PM
you've expressed this very poignantly, andrea! dementia is horrible...
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/15/2024 4:29:00 PM
thanks, Ilene. My stepdad and stepsister suffered for that horrible disease. On my biological dad's side though, cancer has taken nearly all of my many Miller kin away. I think dementia is one of the very worst. With cancer you still have your mind's function and you are likely to die without the horrendously long time it takes most victims of dementia to pass away.
Date: 9/15/2024 11:30:00 AM
Am saddened by such news Andrea, Roberts contributions here have been unmatched in my time here...
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/15/2024 11:42:00 AM
This isn't about Robert. Did you ever know Caycay? She is a dear but she is unable to figure out how to get back on Soup and her being in another state makes it impossible for me to help her. I am hoping Soup will be able to help her get back on here. Sadly, she can't even figure out how to get onto her old email account in order to communicate with poetrysoup
Date: 9/15/2024 9:49:00 AM
Dear Andrea, my poet friend, your poignant poem tenderly illustrates how dementia can rob one of friends, hobbies and their life as they knew it. I'm not familiar with this contest's details but your bolded words fit into your verses seamlessly and with deep soulful effect. So sorry to hear about this Souper's situation. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/15/2024 11:43:00 AM
Maybe he took a turn for the worse. The deaths in his family greatly affected him.
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/15/2024 10:10:00 AM
I have soup mailed Robert many times but to no avail. I was aware of his dementia diagnosis but he seemed mildly affected and stable while he was here. I hope he’s ok and just posting on another poetry website.
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/15/2024 9:54:00 AM
thanks, Susan. I am also wondering about Robert L. I need to send him a Soupmail. He has made us all aware that he has had alzheimers for some time now. i hope he hasn't bowed out completely.
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