I had the chance to chat with an old friend today. This friend and I go back almost 30 years - eek -hard to believe! He is one of those friends that I only speak to once a year - maybe two years, but none the less it feels like yesterday. We spent our time catching up on all that is new in our lives and where we are - where we’re going.
I realize that those types of friends, the ones you’ve had forever - even though you are not going out for drinks or making lots of new memories together - they serve such an important role. We discussed the fact that we are forever bonded over those memories, those pivotal moments, those formative years. I think it’s necessary to have those friends in your life to help you remember who you once were. To remember those parts of your life that were so long ago - another life time, really. Similar to how my brother was there to confirm that time that my mom did in fact back hand me across the dining room table for being snotty or to recollect how she used to take us to Charlie’s restaurant for our birthdays and we ordered chocolate eclairs for dessert. So too, old friends fill in those gaps for non family times. Like the day we watched a gigantic oak tree fall in total silence in Steep Rock, or getting into Checkers bar under age and drinking pitchers of beer only to puke it all up on the walk home! Ah - youth!
Being a 40 something adult - mother with kids - responsible ALL the time, its hard to remember who I once was - good and bad. While I’d like to think I was generally the same person, I know a lot of growing up has happened since then. There were dumb things done, awful things said, as well as wonderful moments experienced. Thankfully old friends were part of it. Friends who help bring me back to those times - in a good way. Friends who help to reinforce the person I’ve become today - thanks to those times shared way back when…
So readers - who are those old friends for you? Have you talked to them recently?
1 comment:
this post gives me the chills. just went to a baby shower for my friend, sandy, who had greta just 2 weeks ago. she is having her first and i have one with a bit of acne! i got a chance, at the shower, to catch up with a bunch of my high school friends. we see each other regularly, but not regularly enough. i have made it my mission to see way more of these friends. they know kim mccarthy, not kim ashworth. it's funny, though. the people that know kim mccarthy would really like the people who know kim ashworth. i find myself thinking, "oh, sabrina, or monica, or lisa would just love laurie, sandy, or alana." so funny.
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