Wonderful how you connect finding old friends with reconnecting with our original selves - which I believe is an underrated part of human development at our stage of life. Thank you for sharing this!
Lovely piece! I have always treasured my old friends, from elementary and high school, some of whom I stayed in touch with through the years. Then along came Facebook, which, for all its faults, really made a difference, allowing me to reconnect with people like my best friend from 1st grade who moved to the Oregon woods in 1979. I've rediscovered her as a wonderful writer with a fascinating life, and still a true friend.
I SO agree! One of the best blessings in my long life has been the several friendships that have stood the proverbial test of time - several for over 50 years! Not only do we know each other's histories and truest selves, but when I look at one of my 70+ year-old friends, I still see the teenager they were...
This is lovely, and accounts for why I still cherish my three best friends from elementary school, all of whom I see on a regular basis. We have a short-hand with one another; often don't need to say much to get the point across.
Thanks, cherished friend. It seemed that in the odd-numbered grades I was considered funny, but in the even-numbered grades I was a bitter and sarcastic little snot. Such is the life of the humorist.
Don, this was beautiful. I am so sorry we were not able to see you. For the record, I was always in awe of how incredibly intelligent you were! (Even if you did say SO-crates 😂)
Absolutely, both in England (where I was born and raised) and California (where I came of age). I love your sentimental journey, Don. I did something similar when I was in my early forties, and having.a bit of a midlife crisis. I flew to the UK, visited old friends, renewed lovely relationships, and ended up in the town I grew up in, even though my family and friends had left it, where I met up with old teachers. They were delighted to see me, and one described my adventure as "magnificent". 😂
Sounds like a great trip. We had a beautiful nine days in the Berkshires in October, visiting our old friends. One of those people came up from NYC with me in the late '60s. You can't replace all that history....layers and layers.
Thx for the shout-out! In October, my wife and I spent an unforgettable week in Colorado with two couples who were our deepest friends while living in Knoxville. We hadn't seen them for 3 years. Lots of laughs, stories, and even some tears. Then last week, a couple who were dinner club buddies and dear old friends in Minneapolis in the 1970's stopped in for a 6-hour dinner, memories, catchup, and pure delight. Today, I believe more fervently than ever that Old Friends are super-blessings . . . .
Wonderful how you connect finding old friends with reconnecting with our original selves - which I believe is an underrated part of human development at our stage of life. Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you, Stella. I appreciate your kind words.
Lovely piece! I have always treasured my old friends, from elementary and high school, some of whom I stayed in touch with through the years. Then along came Facebook, which, for all its faults, really made a difference, allowing me to reconnect with people like my best friend from 1st grade who moved to the Oregon woods in 1979. I've rediscovered her as a wonderful writer with a fascinating life, and still a true friend.
Facebook has been amazingly helpful that way.
Loved this, Don. When my life gets back to normal, I hope to go see many of my oldest and dearest friends. I miss them!
Thank you, Susan. Your episodic adventures have me hooked. Sorry for your struggles but thankful for your writing.
I SO agree! One of the best blessings in my long life has been the several friendships that have stood the proverbial test of time - several for over 50 years! Not only do we know each other's histories and truest selves, but when I look at one of my 70+ year-old friends, I still see the teenager they were...
Susan, I'm so glad this resonated for you.
This is lovely, and accounts for why I still cherish my three best friends from elementary school, all of whom I see on a regular basis. We have a short-hand with one another; often don't need to say much to get the point across.
Exactly!
Aw, your jokes probably went over their little heads! I would have laughed, for sure!
Thankful for your long friendship.
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Thanks, cherished friend. It seemed that in the odd-numbered grades I was considered funny, but in the even-numbered grades I was a bitter and sarcastic little snot. Such is the life of the humorist.
lol! Yeah, but the right audience would have appreciated the sarcasm, too.
Don, this was beautiful. I am so sorry we were not able to see you. For the record, I was always in awe of how incredibly intelligent you were! (Even if you did say SO-crates 😂)
I too am sorry I wasn't able to see you. Thanks for your support!
Absolutely, both in England (where I was born and raised) and California (where I came of age). I love your sentimental journey, Don. I did something similar when I was in my early forties, and having.a bit of a midlife crisis. I flew to the UK, visited old friends, renewed lovely relationships, and ended up in the town I grew up in, even though my family and friends had left it, where I met up with old teachers. They were delighted to see me, and one described my adventure as "magnificent". 😂
The perfect antidote to a midlife crisis!
It was! Even better was quitting my job at the awful Georgia Southern University two years later, but that's another story. 😀
Sounds like a great trip. We had a beautiful nine days in the Berkshires in October, visiting our old friends. One of those people came up from NYC with me in the late '60s. You can't replace all that history....layers and layers.
sweet!
Loved this piece, Don. Old friends are the best. You have given me an idea! I’ll see how it turns out. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thx for the shout-out! In October, my wife and I spent an unforgettable week in Colorado with two couples who were our deepest friends while living in Knoxville. We hadn't seen them for 3 years. Lots of laughs, stories, and even some tears. Then last week, a couple who were dinner club buddies and dear old friends in Minneapolis in the 1970's stopped in for a 6-hour dinner, memories, catchup, and pure delight. Today, I believe more fervently than ever that Old Friends are super-blessings . . . .