Old Friends
The old saying, “make new friends but keep the old, one is silver the other gold”, rings true after this weekend. I have written a good deal in this blog about making new friends and change, moving on, etc. but it has also been a place to write about tradition and embracing that which is a part of us. The two are necessary I believe in one’s life and at times one or the other can be more needed or more prominant. This past weekend…it was all about “the old friends”. Old is a relative term. Old for my son would be friends from the past 19 years. Old for me, well, let’s just say much longer ties and relationships!
The length of the friendships really doesn’t matter- it is the depth to be sure. However, that said, sharing many years and experiences adds such a special entity to those old friendships. I attended many graduation parties this past weekend. I chose not to be the caterer but a guest as this year, my son also graduates and many of the parties were of his closest friends. To see him with his friends, many since kindergarten, was a heartwarming scene. To see the parents and have that wave of time passing together was equally as special. I am preparing to be a wreck at the graduation ceremony.
I also had some old friends of my own visiting town this weekend. They were here for the race and I was able to share a short visit and big hugs with them. The level of experiences shared between us is enormous compared to my son’s and his friends; yet, the emotion and depth are still there. It is a relative thing, don’t you think? I miss them, those old friends, as they are only in and out of my life and days so fleeting that I am always left a bit sad for the small taste of time we were able to share. However, they are still there with me, still in my constant prayers and memories, and each time we just start where we left off.
I know my son will now have those memories up to this point in his life with these soon to be “old friends”. He will be making new friends in college next year and someday, they too will become his “old friends”. So goes the cycle of life and the beautiful additions to each of ours along the way. The friends are what make the journey sweet. I am so thankful for all of mine and I know he is as well.
