My grandfather wrote in my autograph book,
“Make new friends, keep the old, one is silver, the other gold.”
Of all the autograph verses I collected, I think that is the one I most often remember.
In
the past three months, I have been reminded once more of that little saying. Those weeks have given my many opportunities
to visit and spend time with friends, old and new.
One
friend who has been through a difficult year is home after a ten-month
hospital stay recuperating from Gille Barre syndrome. She still can’t be left alone, so I am
staying with her one morning a week until her PSW worker comes so her husband
can go to work. Those times have been rich in friend-fellowship.
Several
times a year, three of us who worked together in the ‘90s get together for
lunch. It’s always a fun time with lots
of laughter and memories. That happened again in October. As usual, I came home with my heart lifted.
There
have been several days spent with writer friends as we promoted our books at
signings and sales events. Much more
than sales happen there—a lot of sharing and support comes in those moments and
hours.
Several
times in the past three months, I’ve shared breakfast with new friends, getting
to know them better and finding ways we can enjoy each other.
Twice
I met with former friends and colleagues at meetings. In such cases there’s never time enough to do
more than whet the appetite for spending more quality time with those you see
after extended absence from one another.
Probably
the most memorable friendship renewing time happened in October when three of
us got together for lunch and a wonderful afternoon. As teenagers, we had formed a trio and sang
together in various places. Although I
have seen both of them since, the three of us haven’t been together in one
place for probably almost 60 years.
One
would think after such a long time, it would have been hard to know what to
talk about. But that’s the surprising
thing about old friends—you seem to be able to start again where you left
off. Oh we did a lot of catching up, but
there was something so solid and comfortable about being together again. My heart sang most of the way home.
H.
Jackson Brown Jr. said we should remember that the most valuable antiques are
dear old friends, but I think I will go with Thomas Aquinas who said,
“There is
nothing on this earth more to be prized that true friendship.”
Or
as Oliver Wendall Holmes put it,
“There is no friend like an old friend who has
shared our morning days, no greeting like his welcome, no homage like his
praise.”
I
wished I could find pictures of all those friends, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even find one photograph of the
three of us together. But there are many
in my mind and in my heart, and that’s what matters most.
“True friends are always together in spirit.”
Ruth Smith Meyer enjoys life in Ailsa Craig, Ontario. She feels very honoured to have been part of the writing of three books this past year. "Good Grief People," "Christmas with Hot Apple Cider" and "Christmas Stories and More."
7 comments:
Your post is timely, Ruth. I too have been connecting with old friends. It's amazing how we can pick up where we left off after being separated for many years.
So true, Ruth and David. I find that we can have friendships with people although we may never have been in their homes, or they in ours; we don't have to live in each others' backyards or frequent their living spaces, and yet they are our friends and we theirs. For instance, our TWG connections have brought us together, despite the geographical distances between us.
However, as you indicate in this heartwarming post, Ruth, it's lovely and refreshing when we do get together and catch up on the passage of the years with "old" friends. ~~+~~
Ruth, that line that started your post is in my autograph book too, I believe. It's amazing, like David wrote, that we can pick up where we left off from a visit weeks. months or years ago. I have one of those visits coming up this week.
Such a lovely post. I felt warmed by all your shared peeks into your treasured friendships. How wonderful that would have been to reminisce with your 'trio' over 60 years~
We moved around a lot when I was younger so I don't have a lot of those wonderful stories but the wonderful friends I have made as a late bloomer are so beautiful - including yours, Ruth!
Nicely said. A warm, cordial post that makes me want to call up a friend and have tea!
Hi, Ruth
I'm almost finished your memoir.I like your style of writing and you have been able to make your life very interesting with the telling. You have had lots of down times, but an amazing spirit of friendship, wisdom and strength through the trials. Your transparency has made it easy to identify similar struggles in the reader's life. Just put a similar review on Amazon.ca.
Thank you so much dear friends, for your affirmations! You are some of the people I find it a privilege to know and love. Glad you enjoyed my memoir, Carol and thanks for the review on Amazon! That's a real bonus that I will treasure.
This is a nostalgic post, Ruth. I left my homeland 20 years ago and getting together with old friends are almost zero. I am happy you could have reconnected with your pals.
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