Old friends

It’s never too late…

to find old friends

They’re like gems.
Links to our past.
Sea anchors in a storm.
They bring Solidity.
A chance for reflection.
A like in our life chain.
A continuum

“The best mirror is an old friend.” – Proverb

A couple weeks ago I bought this book, “It’s Never Too Late” by Patrick Lindsay. It has a bunch of what I would call bite-sized encouragements. We all like those. They fit nicely on a Post-it on as our Facebook status. They are easy to understand yet thought provoking. At best, life changing. Little truths and truisms.

I found this one about old friends and thought how true. In my time of crisis, I think I have reached out to dozens if not hundreds (thank you Facebbook!) of old friends – maybe not all of them were close friends, but they all shared something with me in the past. They help me reflect. They anchor me while my life is in the midst of a hurricane. I love them. In fact, some of them I love even more now than back when I knew them – because we have both changed and become something more, wiser and better.

What is curious is that I am nearly as obsessed with finding Anita’s old friends as my own. People who knew her in middle school, high school and college – before I knew her. People who went to law school with her – and I was right there with them. And what I have found is that she touched many people in her life – regardless of me. What I seek is that love she showed to those people, the love they hold inside of them still. When they share that with me, it is as if a part of Anita is returned to me.

People signed in her 9th grade (middle school) yearbook:

“You don’t know how much you’ve helped me.”

“I really respect your advice (and criticism).”

“You are a really caring person…”

“Anita – I try not to get soft and mushy, but with you I’ll make an exception. I had a real fun time this year and you were a big part of it. I enjoyed talking to you and sharing some energy in communications. We will part, but soon meet again in our afterlives. You will be an eagle and I will be the mountains. We’ll tell dirty stories to each other and do some quades. Until then – take it easy. Love ya. Somewhere in time, Greg”

That last one makes me laugh because it shows how as teenagers we think we’re immortal, then coupled with the crazy “dirty stories and quades” comment plus his name was Greg.

So I will continue to seek out my old friends and Anita’s old friends for perspectives on both of our lives.