"You Can't Make Old Friends"

In the words of the new song by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton..."You Can't Make Old Friends".

There really IS something very special about having a shared history with someone from your past...someone with whom you've maintained a relationship for years....Someone you can pick up a conversation with, even though you haven't seen each other for weeks, months, years.  The threads holding you together are shared memories of earlier times.  

Sure we still need to welcome new friends into our lives.  They can bring a freshness when things may be getting too comfortable or a little stagnant.  Plus the only thing keeping them from becoming OLD friends is time.

We seem so transient, mobile,  these days, but even with so much amazing technology, disconnected.  It takes work -from both ends-to keep friends close.   I hope that I never forget the value of old friends and that we've raised our kids to know their value, too...because "you can't make old friends".

Thanks to all the old friends and the new ones for being such a presence in my life this year and  all of them...