When I entered 3rd grade at Wooldridge Elementary School in Austin. I was one scared little girl. My family had moved several times around Austin and then San Antonio and then back to Austin. My new school was within walking distance to our new house, so that was a good thing for me. A little security knowing that if I totally freaked out, I could always run home. My 3rd grade teacher had long hair that she made into two braids and rolled each on into a ball and pinned them to each side of her head. I thought that was the most beautiful hairdo I had ever seen. She was a very sweet, kind woman and I immediately loved her.
That first day of school for me was one that would change my life forever. At recess, all the kids ran outside and went into several different little groups to laugh and play together. One group of little girls were playing jump rope and some were playing jacks. I was beyond shy, I was pretty much petrified. I made my way to a corner of the playground and sat on a stone wall swinging my legs like everything was ok, but I was close to tears and I was trying to remember the way home, since I had decided that was what I was going to do. Just about the time I was going to bolt out of the play yard, a little girl came around the corner and smiled at me. I smiled back so she wouldn't notice that I was about to cry. "Hi" she said, my name is Lominta, what's your name? I told her my name, "My name is Cathy Kypke. Today is my first day here, we just moved. "oh she said, who is your teacher? I told her that my teacher was Mrs. Robertson. "Oh, she said, she is my teacher too!"
I had been so scared I didn't even look at any of my classmates. Lominta asked if I had any brothers and sisters and when I told her I had three brothers and three sisters and that my mom was about to have another baby. As I told her this her eyes got bigger and bigger. Then she broke out laughing and said how lucky I was to have some brothers since she only had sisters. She had such an infectious laugh that I started laughing too. It seemed to me that she had a very deep voice, and a great laugh. About that time, the bell rang and she grabbed my hand and said, "come on let's run back to the classroom together." She was about the best thing that ever happened to me from that day forward. We were pretty much inseparable for many years after that. I still remember her phone number, GR 62815. When I saw her at the Mardis Gras party I was telling her that and she said, "yes, and I remember yours, TU 23831." Amazing.
Lominta was a huge part of my growing up and we remained best friends for so many years. She even went on vacation with us to go see my grandparents in Illinois. That was the ultimate vacation for my older sister, Kim and I. The three of us were all best friends. That summer was the best I ever had, to this day. She and Kim and I had a blast, exploring all over my grandparents farm. My mom made us take naps in this huge bed, upstairs with the promise that if we slept or just rested, there would be a treat on the stairs. Well, we mostly played and giggled, but always found treats on the stairs. We had many adventures on my grandparents farm that my sister and I still talk and laugh about. One in particular was the time up there that my older brother, Kip, locked us in a horse stall and left us there for hours. It was quite the drama for three little girls. We yelled and screamed and were totally ignored by my siblings. At one point, I told Lominta and Kim that I was so cold, I was going to freeze. Both of them took their shirts off and put them over me.
Kip finally let us out in time for dinner. He was such a jerk as only big brothers can be. Hysterical for many years after as each of us would recall that time, and pretty much laugh till we wet our pants. That kind of laughter. The best kind I know.
There was a time when my family was going to move again and we were all heart broken to leave Austin and our best friend, Lominta. Kim and I asked our mother if we could just adopt her and Lominta was all for that! Well, that didn't happen, but we still got to have her come visit. Time went by and we lost touch with each other during marriages, having kids, traveling..... Then I heard that she and her husband and family were living in Mexico, so I figured it would be a
while before we saw each other again.
One day, in 1981 I think, I got a phone call and it was Lominta, she said that she and her family were back in Austin. We were both ecstatic. Then she said that she and her husband, Rob had rented a little house. She asked me if we still lived on Shoalwood, and I said yes. Lominta said, "ya know, I think we might have rented the house across the street from you!" What!! Oh my God.... Well, we just picked up where we left off as soon as they moved in. Coffee together most days or evenings when we could. It was an amazing time in my life. She was there at the hospital when my second son Aubrey was born. He is now 30 years old.
Needless to say, we remained friends my whole life although we lost touch here and there, whenever we did get together it was pretty much a laugh fest. I will be 66 this summer and I have never had a friend like Lominta in my lifetime and I doubt I ever will. She was just such a special person in my life, and a friend I will always cherish in my heart.
I didn't realize how traumatized I was when she died and I couldn't go to her funeral or any of the things that occurred after she died. We were out of town. I always want to remember Lominta like she was when we were younger. Laughing and skipping down the side walk. Two little girls who had never been happier. And when she died, I have never been sadder. I will miss her always.
