About a year ago, I began wondering Who has been my friend the longest? (By "friend" I mean someone I've known who I still keep SOME contact with, on an annual basis, and who I am presently in regular contact with.) WHY I thought about this I'm not sure, but I came up with Wayne and John (49 years), Phil and Mittie (48 years), and a whole bunch of others who are 40-PLUS years, including my best friend (other than my dear wife), Bob.
Well, just yesterday, an old friend, CAROL MILANO, called me and I realized SHE has been my friend for ***50*** years, this coming September!! I had totally forgotten her, until yesterday!!
Carol became good friends with my MOM in 1969, and was primarily my mom's friend before mom died...I guess that's why it didn't immediately occur to me that she is MY friend, TOO (but she is.) She has definitely kept in touch with my sisters and me since mom's passing 12 years ago. The older I get (64 next month), the more I appreciate old friends, those who've stood the test of time and have been able to overlook my faults enough to still call ME their friend. Admittedly, if I don't WORK at it, though, I tend to take old friends for granted. And I shouldn't.
Carol will be 75 in March and I've put it on my schedule to send her a card and tell her she's my oldest friend in terms of longevity (NOT "oldest" in terms of AGE, Lol!!), and how I appreciate her. This new year I intend to express my appreciation to old AND new friends (ALL friends, in fact) more than ever before.
We don't know how much time we have left, to do so!!
No comments:
Post a Comment