Old Friends

When ever I come across a set of friends that have been together for a lifetime I am amazed and enchanted by the fact of it. I enjoy the stories they have and the way they tell them together. Sometimes you can tell that two people have been friends for their lifetime by observing the way they hold a conversation. You do not have to overhear some piece of information that reveals dates, years or anything like that you just know. When old friends come together it is something special.

They seem to know each other so well and this understanding of each other goes much deeper then with other friendships it seem to go to a place that cannot be described only experienced and witnessed. They are so familiar with each other’s faces that at times they can move each other to laughter or sorrow by exchanging glances. They can read between the lines of each others speech. One can say “remember that time when…” and before he can finish the answer has been given and the conversation is well under way.

Only time passed can make an old friend. Sometimes fast friends can fit this description but it would lack many of the most important qualities of an old friendship. Old friends develop a chemistry together.
An old friend is that friend that seems to be present in the majority of your greatest memories. It does not matter what time or how many years the memories goes back he is there. When you have had this friend long enough it gets to the point where they will always be your old friend even if you eventually lose contact with them. They will always be in those memories they will always have played that part in you life.

The friendships like this seem to be present in the oldest generations most. I am not sure that this is entirely the effect of the need of decades of time together or if this kind of friendship is becoming a real rarity. It may be that modern times have put strains on these friendships. Today people do not stay put the way they used to. The world may be growing too unstable for these kinds of friends. It’s getting harder to trust that the familiarities of today will still exist as we know them in the decades to come. I can only hope that things are noot changing that fast and I see one of my friendships develope into old friends. Old friends, even the phrase itself seems to have a special warmth to it. Endearing. A feeling similiar to that when watching Rick Blaine and Captain Renault walking into the fog at the end of Casablanca.