When you are young, you think that the friendships that are so important to you then will last forever. In hate to be the bearer of bad news, The reality is that most of them don’t. People change. People move about. New partnerships, interests and friendships blossom.
You gradually lose touch. Christmas greetings stop. Phone calls become occasional. Family and work responsibilities intervene. Slowly the friendship dissolves into fond memories and promises to get together again soon.
So it is rare to have a friendship that has endured for over 55 years.
My grade 12 class in 1963. I am in the top right with the V-neck sweater. Over the years, my head has grown into my ears.
At the far right in the first row is Lorna Harris . Lorna and I are still great friends after these 50 years, corresponding regularly by Facebook and email. An enduring friendship. Could we ever imagine what the next 50 years would bring?
In the past few years we have met occasionally for dinners or lunches and lots of chat and the Internet has kept us connected more regularly.
I thought this week as I spent time with her and her husband, Greg, what a treasure our friendship must be. Apart from my father and my brother, she is the only one in my life now who would have known me consistently since I was 14. And vice versa. She is one of the few people who knows, or has experienced, some of my youthful roots. We evolved as teenagers together and now continue to enjoy each other’s company as senior citizens. This gives us a special bond.
I enjoyed the visit with her and her husband this week and know that we will both work to keep this unique friendship alive as long as we can. It is, as they say at MasterCard, priceless.
johnageddes 