I recently made contact on Facebook (Say what you will, I’ve found a lot of old friends on Facebook), with one of my very best friends in high school. Her name is Mayumi Ishii, though in school she went by Mary Ishii. I called her Mish. Sometimes people called us “M Squared” (can’t figure out how to make the 2 for the squared) since we were both Mary. Mish was I think 2 years behind me, and we became friends right away when she started high school. I can’t remember how we met, though. Chorus maybe? Orchestra? I don’t remember.

Mayumi is an exquisite person. She told me once that Mayumi means “Beautiful Eyebrow” in Japanese which I think is lovely and suits her. When I graduated and went away to school Mish and I grew apart. I saw her again when I found her in Madison twenty odd years ago: she was a Judge (!) so young. She invited Nathan, Sam (who was about 5) and I over to her apartment to have tempura, which was so delicious. I am ashamed to say that after that I did not contact her or even thank her: I think it was because I was intimidated by her success, felt awkward, and sensed we really had nothing in common any more. But we do! We have our shared history. I am ashamed of not contacting her after that. I’m sorry, Mayumi.

But LO! I found her on Facebook! Mish is married and has two kids. She is still a judge, but right now has been moved to working at the unemployment office. Still a compassionate person who wants to help others. She is living back in Brown Deer!

I can’t tell you how happy I am that I found her. I feel so rotten about my childhood for many reasons: but I had a few Angel friends, like Mayumi and Anne Johnson (who I have also connected with: she’s living the dream writing and making music, living in Brooklyn), who really impacted me and made me feel better about myself at a very mixed up time in my life.

One of the things I remember most about Mayumi is her laugh: she has the most delightful laugh. Back then she was tiny and so beautiful. She has a great sense of humor. I loved her so much: still do. She was a lifeline.