We don’t like losing old friends.
Today I am using one of the newest computers available – it is borrowed, and I’ve noticed one old friend is gone. That’s the feature, which I guess is only used by those who learned to type when Touch Typing was taught. Keyboards have always had two operable “shift” keys, one on the left and one on the right of the keyboard. This brand spanking new computer I’m using only allows the left shift key to work, meaning after 60 years of using the “little finger” on either hand to operate a shift (when making capital letters, for example), I need to unlearn this behavior – this can slow one down tremendously. Another reason to question so-called technological improvements. If you never learned to type without looking at the keys, this will mean nothing to you.
Old friends are the best kind. I told someone the other day that old friends are priceless, and she questioned whether or not I was serious. I was.
Last weekend when Windham High School Alumni Association held its 95th reunion, a couple hundred folks got together at the middle school to celebrate old friendship. It was a joyous event.
Classmates who hadn’t seen each other for 40 years did a double take when reading the identification badges and checking out the face above it. Shaking hands, hugging and immediately launching into memories of school and reminiscences about all the years since school. Old friends.
Over the years, I’ve lost track of the “old friends” that have disappeared from the store shelves.
One is an old-fashioned apron. Regardless of how fancy a “linen” department a big box store has, I have a difficult time finding a regular cotton apron. Apparently today’s apron wearer is either a 300-pound, six-foot-five-inch man who needs to cover the entire body with pockets and bibs, or a woman who weighs 80 pounds soaking wet and needs an apron more for the ruffle than anything else.
Aprons have gone the way of washable sneakers. Used to be you could throw sneakers right into the washing machine. With all the buttons and decorations and even lights on today’s sneakers, they may have to be dry-cleaned.
I don’t like losing old friends, whether they are familiar products from stores or people I’ve known since we were learning to jump rope together.
Old friends are different. They don’t care what you are wearing. They always ask how you are – first. Then they ask about the rest of the family. They can be counted on for a phone call before they send a sympathy card when the occasion arises. They never care if the floor is swept when they come to visit – they are visiting you, not the house. They are the first to bring a casserole if you are feeling unwell. Old friends will – for no reason at all – include a couple of postage stamps in a card, or slip in a $5 bill.
No matter how many business friends you may have, or acquaintances you can count on, there is nothing as valuable or precious as an old friend. And old friends, like fine wine, get better with age.
This is the time of Memorial Day and we will all be remembering old friends. It’s a good time, it seems, to appreciate the friendships we have. Call an old friend today.
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