When we were seventeen, the only thing that mattered was driving our first green and red cars, talking about boys and getting out of high school.
We were so excited to get our first apartments, coming of age, dancing the nights away and sharing the news of our dates from the night before. Dancing in the reflection of our apartment window, candlesticks as microphones, any song as our backup singers.
In our twenties, we meet our mates and begin the next step in adulthood. Marriage and children begin to occupy our topics of conversation, but with not much more than a wink and a smile, we always slip back to the cadence of girlish laughter, shared memories, the ease of a forever friend.
Life takes us on different paths. A bond that’s still strong, but we’re separated by responsibility, needs, exploring different lifestyles and we veer away from each other. Both personally struggling with tragic and ever-changing family events, we keep in touch buts its sparse and shallow. Except for that knowing-ember of forever friends glowing, never going out, both of us silently trusting this is also part of a life of the friendship.
Forty knocks on our doors, life is still crazy but settles. We meet at one of our old hometown bars for a drink, and are once again, in touch, together. The conversations are different; deep, job, kids, husbands, life-conversations. We find we still can and will at any moment, break out into that fun, you better watch out, we will sing harmony to any song that comes on the radio, forever friendship that is easy and true.
We’re in our fifties now. So much has changed in our lives. It hasn’t been easy for either of us. The trials of life, of health, of death, of finding our inner strength. We have been there through it all. When I look at my forever friend she still looks seventeen. We can still sing a mean harmony to the radio, we can sit on a dock by the lake in our hometown and while away an afternoon with talk. We can take silly pictures, and laugh, feeling young, carefree, no worries in the world. We can also cry and feel the pain for what we’ve had to endure, and for the present trials in our own lives, our children or our loved ones. We can go through all the emotions in a matter of an hour. It’s easy, it flows, it’s safe, it’s trusting.
Never judging each other’s choices, always (even those years we were apart) cheerleading for each other, always forever friends. Since Seventeen!
Thank You! I love the story of your mother in-law and her bestie. Thats awesome. Im glad you and your sister have that double bond of sis/friend. Thats is something that is life long and solid! Thans for sharing this with me. 💜 Alexis
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful! My mother in law in her mid 80’s still has her best friend. She lives in New York while my M-law is here in CA but they’ve never wavered. I love that bond. My bond is with my sister since having lost many friends already.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You Jackie, that means a lot. Couldnt imagine walking through life without her. 😀
LikeLike
Oh my! What a beautiful testimony of enduring friendship 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank You Serena. I totally agree!! Have a wonderful day today. 🙂
LikeLike
Friendships like these are the bread of life. Thank you for sharing this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😃💖
LikeLike
I feel so blessed to have my friendship with Alexis! We’ve held each other up so many times in our lives and can’t imagine life without Alexis as my friend. 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You! Yes, I am grateful for Janet. She is one of the first friends I made when I moved to MN when I was 17. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
You both look so happy. That friendship is priceless!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You Ann! I was feeling very emotional the other day after we hung out together. I woke up at 5am and this came pouring out of my head. 💜
LikeLike
I love this photo and that you had a forever friend. You guys look so darling together. : )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You Terry!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this post Alexis – I think it is rare finding and holding on to a special friendship! You both are very fortunate and I am happy for you and your friend – very special! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep – they are few in number for me (just 1) but massive in terms of importance in my life and the ability to really ‘be myself’ – she gives me a kick when I’m trying to be someone else – haha! x You have a brilliant day too – enjoy x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You Wendy! I feel extremely fortunate to have a few people in my life that no matter what happens we can always be our messy selves. Have a wonderful day. 💜 Alexis
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is something about our childhood friendships that enable us to ‘pick up where we left off’ regardless of the time and distance that has separated us – a bond that remains and re-establishes again in the instant of meeting up. We are lucky when we have that continuing friendship for so long! Lovely to read about yours. x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You Jackie 💜
LikeLike
Thank You for your comment. I totally agree, I think its a good way to stay grounded in the present. Have a wonderful day! Alexis
LikeLike
Beautiful!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This thought has been going through my head for a few day: We need to remind each other how capable we are. Friends, old and new – we can do this for each other.
LikeLiked by 1 person