BFF

We had a “cousins reunion” in NYC last night at dinner. No gathering with me in New York is complete without my friend Eliz. She is family – not just to me but to my cousins as well. Eliz and I figured out, with much exclamation, astonishment, surprise, denial and pride, that we have been friends for 42 years, having met in first form at Wolmer’s!

Nowadays Eliz and I rarely see each other. When I pass through New York, or she whooshes through JA, then we link up for a meal or a quick visit. Our mothers, Daisy and Helen, developed their own friendship independent of their daughters. This friendship had them visiting and travelling with each other, communicating regularly and taking care to nurture and treasure their friendship. This was how Eliz and I kept up with each other – through our moms. Our relationship has been different to our moms’ – intermittent communication (read: months or years) with barely an e-mail, and never a letter, card or note! Yet, as we acknowledged last night, Eliz is my BFF (“Best Friend Forever” for those of you over 25, or who have children over 25). When we meet, it’s back to being the giggly schoolgirls we were at Wolmer’s – chatting about boys (yes we still do that, although they are now men), our work, our families, our health (read: weight) and of course catching up on our classmates at Wolmer’s and reminiscing about the good old days. The reconnection is immediate, comfortable, unpretentious. I am myself with Eliz, and she is herself with me.

We parted with promises of communicating with each more by e-mail, and my threat to get her on Facebook (my threat to everyone nowadays). Yet, I know that if she doesn’t get around to answering my e-mails – it’s OK. The next time I am heading to NY, or she is coming to JA, we will link up again, counting the years as BFFs, and celebrating our treasured friendship!