Today I said goodbye to an old friend. A very old friend.

We hadn’t really been that close for the past couple of decades, but recently, we had started to see each other again; to renew our old friendship.

So, it was somewhat of a surprise when I learned of their demise but it probably shouldn’t have been. Afterall, they’d had a great run… we’d been friends for more than 30 years.

In the beginning, we’re were very close. I’d meet with them at least once every single day and sometimes, twice. Then, as we grew older, we drifted apart as friends sometimes do. There was work, going back to college, marriage, raising kids – something always seemed to get in the way. Our visits became sporadic  and it lasted that way for nigh on twenty years. But recently, we had reconnected. I don’t know if it was our age that brought us back to together but I’m sure it definitely played a part in it. Whatever the reason, the comfort and warmth my old friend brought me during the past few months was welcomed and it reminded me of our earlier times. I only hope that I brought the same warmth and appreciation.

I had tried to introduce my friend to my children but for some reason they didn’t seem to hit it off. My kids thought both of us were too stuffy and old-fashioned. Bulky and not hip enough. It sort of hurt our feelings but we knew they just didn’t appreciate our resourcefulness and experience. I tried to tell them that friends like this came once in a life-time but they didn’t listen. Even though they were changing friends as soon as they got to know them. They would complain their friends weren’t dependable but they refused to listen to us.

But we knew true friendship. After all, even through the separations, life’s busy tasks that sometimes tear us away from one another, we still remained friends. We always knew we could count on one another and knew if we needed one another, we were only a step away.

Today I lost a good friend but I have a lifetime of memories to sustain me. Thanks for always being there for me when I needed you during the past 30 years. You never complained on the length of time in between visits but you were always ready whenever I needed you.

Goodbye old friend, your work is done. You deserve your rest. Take care my old friend, you were definitely one of the best!