The beginning Part 5

Telephones, trains, and waiting for friends

Suzy's life changes as she nears her first birthday, a significant milestone in her young life. Don and Helen move from the Peninsula coast to a house on the outskirts of San Francisco, closer to Don's workplace. More family members arrive during this time, much to Suzy's delight. Trips to the ocean side have been replaced with strolls up and down the steep City blocks near their home. While Suzy enjoys any time outdoors, she longs to return to the beach. She wishes she had the means to alert Helen and Don of her feelings, but without words, she is at a loss to help them understand. 

As her first birthday draws near, Suzy's impatience grows, eagerly anticipating the arrival of her friends. Every night, she turns to God, asking when she will finally meet them. She senses a presence, a comforting feeling that she knows is God and her beloved Angels, but she longs to hear their answers to her questions. 

Feeling frustrated, Suzy recalls from her past lives that telephones are handy tools for conversing with loved ones over long distances. She also observes Don and Helen using the phone and wonders if they are communicating with God or the Angels. This curiosity about the telephone piques her interest, and she eagerly looks forward to the day when she will have her own phone.

Sunday mornings quickly become Suzy's favorite time of the week. Don does not work on weekends, and Helen and Don are calm and happy as they sip their coffee and read the paper in bed with Suzy nestled between them. There are no arguments on Sundays. On one of these Sunday mornings, the day before Suzy's first birthday, Don and Helen surprise Suzy with her very own phone. Suzy is delighted.

Suzy searching the want ads for friends while trying to call God

With a hopeful heart, she combs the want ads in search of friends while holding the phone close, calling out to God. Forgetting that she cannot yet read, the paper offers no clues, and the new phone offers no connection. Remembering the days of party lines when multiple homes, typically in the United States and Canada, shared a telephone line, she allows for the possibility that the connection will improve later, believing that perhaps, in the meantime, God will call her instead.

A girl and her doll calling on God

A few days later, with help from her favorite doll, Suzy tries once again to chat with God. The big doll could be more forthcoming with ideas, but at least she offers the camaraderie that Suzy longs for. 

God and the Angels giggle together, filled with warmth and fondness, knowing that Suzy's wait will not be in vain.

Since the phone does not seem to be connecting to God, Suzy devises a new plan, a trip to visit God. She remembers that trains (her favorite mode of transportation in past lifetimes) are reliable and decides to try to make the trip. Of course, it's been a while, and she's at a loss to figure out how it might work, but she's resolute and unwavering in her determination to try. 

I sure wish that train would arrive.

Suzy remembers sitting on wooden benches waiting for the train to arrive, so she finds the closest bench around, which happens to be in her backyard. Dressed in her warmest coat and hat, with her packed bag beside her, she waits patiently on the bench, keeping an eye out for the train. After an hour or so, Don, working in the yard while keeping an eye on Suzy, gathers her up and takes her inside for lunch. While Suzy would like to resist, she's at a loss because she is cold and hungry, but her patience and determination remain unwavering. 

Suzy decides the visit will have to wait… 68 years and counting. In the meantime, hopefully her friends will arrive sooner rather than later.

If you’d like to catch up, you can find Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here and Part 4 here.