One is silver and the other gold

Looking out into a crowd of parents, the smell of red kool-aid and freshly burned chocolate chip cookies, the sound of click-ratchet-ratchet-ratchet-click as a dozen 110 cameras snap blurry, headless memories. Make new friends, but ke-e-ep the old; one is silver and the other gold. Little did I know what impressions were formed as a singing, sash wearing Brownie. Two simple lines of a song I remember nearly thirty years later. Simple words I reflect upon as I near forty.

I have been blessed with amazing friendships throughout my life. I have shared countless smiles and laughter. I have shared many tears and fears. I have shared several secrets. There have been few connections with my core. I value all of my friends, all of my friendships, but those core connections are those that have increased in value as we age.

As a teen, friendship was about time and events and hanging out and he said she said and shopping and fun and be fri/ st end necklaces. Friendship was everything and I thought it would be that way, forever, always and a day. Then came love, then came marriage, then came Jen pushin’ a baby carriage! Career, and family, took me in new directions and to faraway places. Life happened, perspectives shifted. Friendships became difficult to fit in with all of the other stuff life threw at me.

I struggled to figure out how to fit it all in to each crazy day. Each day began to run into the other and before I knew it, it was three months. Three months and I had not so much as picked up a phone, sent a card, or typed an email. There were those few who understood, the few who were connected to my core. The amazing people that when you pick up the phone after six months, you jump right back in like you never missed a minute. Priceless, amazing friendship.

I am fortunate to have a junior high bestie as one of my core connections. We have travelled parallel paths, but often on separate highways. Despite living 500+ miles from home, she is less than an hour from me. All too often, the craziness of life makes our short distance a world apart. We scheduled it and met for breakfast this week. Over pancakes and coffee, we shared amazing love and laughter. A priceless shift of perspective, from teens wanting to be adults to thirty-somethings flying fabulously into forty. A gentle reminder of the value of my core connections. An indication to make time, make contact, and let them know I value them…

It just got added to “The List”, Make contact with, make time for, and make memories with friends; old and new.

Make new friends but keep the old,

one is silver and the other gold.

A circle is round, it has no end,

that’s how long I will be your friend.