Remember that dumb song we used to sing in Girl Scouts? Well, even though I didn’t like it at the time, I’d like to take a closer look at the lyrics, now that I’m older and … wiser? “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold. A circle is round, it has no end. That’s how long, I will be your friend.” Suddenly, at the age of thirty, this song has meaning, as I fly home from Ohio, after spending seven glorious days with old friends.
Friday—somewhat hung-over, thanks to ill-advised Jager Bombs the night before—I received a Reiki treatment from Lisby, a friend of my Aunt Susie, who I consider to be instant Zen. Spending time with Lisby is like spending time with a huge dose of Xanax, minus the sleepy side effects. I consider her a surrogate auntie. Speaking of aunties, I spent the rest of the day and night with Susie, shopping (because we always shop when we’re together), eating way too much food, and cackling over cocktails. Susie, who was my Maid of Honor (“SOMOH,” to clarify: Sexy Old Maid of Honor) is my oldest, best friend, having known me since birth. She wins that medal, always will.
Then, it was off to the Polish American Festival with Janine and her husband Ben. Janine was my first roommate post-college, when we were both single and known for wearing corsets to Toledo bars. Again, it felt as if no time had passed as we caught up on life and her current “Baby Fever.” Even when I took a tumble and crushed my knee (thank you, high-heeled shoes), she was there to pick me up and laugh—because what else can you do when a friend makes a complete idiot of herself? Pick her up, brush her off, and laugh her through the pain.
I had to make a stop in Athens on the way back to Perrysburg to see my alma mater, Ohio University, and Caruso, my brother’s best friend from college and my adopted sibling. We met for lunch at Casa Nueva. We argued over movies and TV. We marveled over the fact that my brother is finally in a healthy, happy relationship. We did a circle around downtown Athens and across college green. I didn’t want to leave, and I got a little choked up when I gave Caruso one last hug before hitting the road.
I have so many old friends, each different, special, and important in his or her own way. I have friends I’ve known since the age of ten (the Hocking Hills gang) and friends like Jan, who I didn’t meet until my mid-twenties. It goes back to that Girl Scout song: “You have one hand, I have the other. Put them together, we have each other. You help me, and I’ll help you, and together we will see it through.”
My trip home to Ohio was like paging through an emotional rolodex of good times, hard times, and the friends that have been there for both. I hope they will always be there, because old friends bring out the best in all of us. They also remind us of who we once were, because let’s face it: we’ve all lived several lives in the course of this one life. It’s good to remember where we’ve been. Old friends help us do that. It’s also good to remember where we’re going, and well, old friends help us get there.
Wonderful writing. Made me cry, of course. Love you Doll!
This is lovely. You took me there with your words and pictures. Thanks.
Made me well up too. Great narrative…life in a nutshell. Kisses.
You are awesome Sara!!!! You make me smile – I wish we could have spent more time together! Love you!