Last week I had a friend visit from the UK. We met when we were 12 in the pool of a hotel in Malaysia and stayed friends. She moved to London 27 years ago and we've kept in touch and caught up every few years when she visits. A world has changed for us both, but the ease of the friendship has stayed the same.
On the weekend I went to Brisbane to see my oldest friend. We were in preschool together and lived one street apart. We've known each other our whole lives. We're quite different on a lot of things, but quite similar on others. When we travel together, her relaxed nature tolerates my wound up sensibilities. It's an easy relationship.
What I noticed with both these friendships is how quickly the difficult truths come out, and how supportive the reaction is. There is no judgement, and there is never any fear of how it will be received. One of the friends even noted it, saying "I hate telling people that because sometimes they start telling you how to parent". My nature is a 'fix-it' personality but I'm working on zipping it, because sometimes, no matter how helpful you're trying to be, telling people how to do things is the last thing they want to hear. Especially if you have no idea what it's like.
With my friend in Brisbane, we had 11 hours together. The first 2-3 hours, we caught up our recent histories, covered political affairs, work, kids and family health. By the time we hit the bars, we were people watching and had clicked into the groove that we often find when travelling together. Then we just had fun. Not catching up as such but sharing a fun experience, like friends who have the luxury of seeing each other all the time. It's a real joy to have those genuine moments, as they're what's often stolen from the long distance friendships - the moments when you're just kicking back and having fun.
Old friends never cease to make you smile.
Linking with #MLSTL
I love old stories and old friends! Thanks for linking up at NanaHood!
ReplyDeleteI love people watching but often wondered if anyone is watching me!#fortheloveofblog@_karendennis
ReplyDeleteI love people watching but often wondered if anyone is watching me!#fortheloveofblog@_karendennis
ReplyDeleteI was totally staring so I think they might have been people watching me back!!
DeleteI grew up in a small town and went to school with the same people for 12yrs (plus kindergarten etc) and then we'd see each other when home from Uni etc... We still catch up now and there is that 'what have you been doing?' element - though it's less necessary now we're all on FB. But we easily slip back into those easy friendships and there's an intimacy borne of our early years together which is always there. It's lovely. #teamlovinlife
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about old friends is that they know all of your secrets! The stupid things you did as a teenager, the boyfriend dramas and are generally the first to find out when you get engaged or get pregnant. I think we all need someone who knows us inside out. Unfortunately I have lost contact with all of my childhood friends so now only have ones that go back to my early 30s. #TeamLovinLife
ReplyDeleteSo true, Kathy! I still keep in touch with a few special people from uni and highschool. They are some of my truest friends.
DeleteSSG xxx
Old friends who know you warts and all are the best!
ReplyDeleteIngrid
http://www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au
I caught up with an old friend a few weeks ago - wondered if we'd have enough to talk about - oh boy! We could have gone on chatting for days! Love the connection that long term friendships have.
ReplyDeleteI love catching up with old friends and because of a high school reunion a couple of years ago, I reconnected with girls who I hadn't even been friends with at school. We are now firm friends and it is wonderful. I love that long term friendships mean that you don't always have to be in touch but can take up from where you left off as it no time has passed.
ReplyDeleteSue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
Aww that's a lovely tale of friendship. It's so nice when you stay friends with people for a very long time!
ReplyDeleteDi from Max The Unicorn
I love that you met by a pool at the age of 12 at a hotel. I love it because that's exactly how my Cheer Chick Charlie series starts. She meets a girl her age at the hotel pool and they become "pen pals" (only it's email and social media instead). And here you are the living example!
ReplyDeleteAww what wonderful friendships. Old friends are the best! Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
ReplyDeleteI have some long distance friendships too and they kinda sound ilke yours - I wonder if there's something in that, why it works so well. Well, wether there is or there isn't I glad you had a fab time, sometimes we just totally need these sessions with good friends don't we! Thanks for linking and hope to see you here next time! #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteThere's something really special about old friends. I spent last weekend with my bestie. We've been friends for nearly 40 years. Even though we live in different cities, we still catch up as often as possible and love our fortnightly phone calls :) #TeamLovinLife
ReplyDeleteYou always know you have a great friendship when it can survive great distances and breaks as if nothing has kept you apart. Most of my friendships are this way because we have so many kids. It is so nice to schedule the time out with a friend though.
ReplyDeletelovely to have some time out with a friend! We find it so hard to juggle though and its not the same on the phone- I need to make the effort more though! #fortheloveofBLOG thanks for linking up xx
ReplyDeleteThat's so wonderful you have such special friends you can catch up with like this! "comfy friends" as I have heard them called. lol. Taking time to hang out and get past the initial catch up is such a great tip. It's like drinking a hot chocolate, it's nice but its not till you get to the end that you find the really rich stuff! ;)
ReplyDeleteOld friends are the best. I don't see them often enough though, most have moved away. When we do catch up, it is usually a quick hello and we should be actually bedoing something fun and spending quality time:) Reminds me I really should message someone :)
ReplyDeleteI love meeting up with old friends. I have one who everything is just so easy with and we can talk abput anything and everything when we meet up #kcacols
ReplyDeleteYou're lucky to have found two such friends. The easy friendships are the best and most rewarding. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time
ReplyDeleteIt's such fun catching up with 'old' friends! I met up with a friend recently and we just slip back into that groove together. I love the quote you used, it fits so well :) #mlstl
ReplyDeleteSo very true. It is always a good time when old friends get together.
ReplyDeleteI caught up with two friends a couple of weeks ago. One was the wife of my first husbands coworker and the other was a friend of hers. We have been friends for forty odd years. When we get together it is like we have never been a part.
ReplyDeleteI love those old friendships Lydia - I have a friend I've known from the womb (our Mums were close friends) and another one from Yr 1 in Primary School and many more from my teenage days. Somehow the years just fall away when we meet up - and I love how it makes me feel like my younger self when I'm with them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I've shared on my SM :)
Hi Lydia, old friendships are so comfortable aren't they? You can go ages without seeing each other and then just pick up where you left off. Thanks for linking up at #MLSTL and here's to friendship. xx
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