Renew an Old Friendship

Friends in your life are like pillars on your porch.
Sometimes they hold you up,
and sometimes they lean on you.
Sometimes it's just enough to know they're standing by.
- Anon

Friends come and go, but some share special pieces of your past and warm up your world. My friend Randi discovered this at her first class reunion when she saw her old gang, the true-blue friends who were more like sisters than her own. They had yelled at football games, strung crepe paper through the gym for proms, and huddled in sleeping nags under the stars, giggling over boys.

Catching up on each other's life, they celebrated each other's marriage, babies, and dreams come true. And they - cried over divorce, struggles, and disappointment. But when the night was over, they knew one thing. They didn't want to let their friendship slip away again. So now, once a year, they rent a cabin for a long weekend, frolic like carefree teenagers, and share their deepest thoughts, hopes, and fears. They may not resolve any problems, but they bolster each other up and leave refreshed.

Do you have an old friend from way back when? When you dared to be yourself, when you felt accepted and loved? Why not find out where he/she is now and then call or write her. Tell him/her how much they mean to you, how you cherish the memories the two of you share. Set a date to get together, and then do it!

A "Best Friend" is someone who knows who you are, where you've been, and everything you've been through. They are someone who believes in you and accepts you exactly the way you are, someone who speaks the painful truth with loving words, someone with whom you feel safe, someone who offers a warm hug when you face disappointment and applauds heartily with your every success.

Happy Best Friend's Day!