  Let $X$ be a normal crossing compact complex surface with triple points. We
prove that there exists a family of smoothings of $X$ when $X$ satisfies
suitable conditions. Since our differential geometric proof also includes the
case where $X$ is neither K\"ahlerian nor $H^1(X, \mathcal O_X)=0$, this
generalizes Friedman's result on degenerations of $K3$ surfaces in algebraic
geometry.
