The Essence of Frances

 upon your turning 60 years of age.

“You don’t know the essence of my being,” said Frances in 1983.

But now I do, say I

You are

A multifaceted Frannie. Fifi, Frances, Friend.

Frannie:

Coming to school with wet hair and dog-torn skirts

Carrying lesson plans in free hand on purple dittos

Walking across the hall with dripping dittos in a purple haze.

You (with purple fingers from writing awesome, creative lesson plans: Who else would compare Catcher in the Rye with Jim Morrison, James Taylor, and Bob Dylan, and make it work in Writer’s Workshop?)

Lover of  Rock and Roll, Leonard Cohen, and dancing in stilettos at Proms, Rock Concerts, and Wedding Receptions, sometimes off the beat.

Pointing thumbs up to Prom girls with big booties and bustiers

“Drama Queen?” asks Jean.  “Oh no, not me," says you with the devilish smile foretold in your 6th grade school pic.

Veggie sandwiches and the best Eggplant Parmesan that you hate to cook.

Cigarettes and Coffee.

FiFi:

Fabulous fun parties with Eastern Onion surprises

Magicians, video stories,
door prizes for best costumes,(really Candy C as a cat? leotard and cat ears wins?)
 and solo dances with Fred.

Beaded wigs and cantaloupes,

 “Stop it!”  “Does this shirt make my boobs look big?” you say as Greg grabs your bodacious tatas.

Trading big boxes delivered by beautiful boys to keep us alert.

Rolling in the grass with Juno, Artemis, Zoë

And Tug of War, of course.

Feather fans and exotic jewelry, “too old for you.”

Practical jokes and pranks gone awry.
toothpaste in a condom under the sink, Craven Wayne.

Is it a Rose?

Frances:

High School Reunions

Funerals for Friends, “Gone but not forgotten”

And for lost students, drugs, car wrecks and suicides

From a school built on the Trail of Tears.

Promises made and kept:

Photos in Coffin: “Friends til we die.”

Tolerant

Democrat

Caregiver

Unconditional Love

Unconditional Acceptance (except for Republicans).

“Remember this day!”

Friend.