Charlotte was my great friend of 67 years. We met as shy and studious 8th graders in 1958. We were best friends through all of high school. Although we went our separate ways at graduation, we kept in touch, sometimes just off and on, but pretty close touch for the last 20 years or so. I moved from Montgomery to South Carolina six years ago. I last saw Charlotte when I came to Alabama for a visit in February of 2020. I took a Zaxby’s lunch for us out to her house. Typically Charlotte, she had just begun caring for two rescue puppies. She kept and loved them as her own.
We shared so much in high school. Movies, football games, spend-the-nights at my house, those wonderful senior parties. We loved Sunday afternoon drives in Petunia, Charlotte’s early 50s Chevy. Petunia’s gages didn’t work, so we never knew how fast we were going or how much gas we had, and there was a hole in the floorboard on the passenger side, but we both adored Petunia. She got us safely from Point A to Point B and back again, and that’s all we ever asked of her.
So many stories about Charlotte, like how she got me a date to the senior prom when I thought I wouldn’t have one. It was only a few years ago that I learned Charlotte told Mike Washburn I didn’t have a date and he should ask me. He did! We had a good time. (I always wondered how Mike ever thought of asking me.)
Charlotte, because we talked about death and dying, I know you had no fear when you went through that door and began to see whatever is on the other side. Our talks helped me lose some of my fear, too. I love you, Charlotte Coker. I’ll see you soon.