Old Friends

There is a certain comfort
Found in the company
Of those who knew
The younger you.
The laughter shared
Comes from a deep well 
Of memories shared.
The admiration felt and received
Coming from a time of
Potential and promise
With resultant questions,
“Have I disappointed?”
“Have I met expectations?”
Coming only from within
Arising from personal doubts
Not from old friends.

The smiles come easily
There is no vanity
With True Old Friends
No need to lose weight 
Or style your hair
You can even dive underwater
For a missing imaginary ring
And not fret over fixing your hair!

Old friends
Known for over 50 years
Like putting on a favorite flannel shirt
The Black and Red Checkered one
From Vermont Flannel
A feeling of being wrapped in love
Embraced by acceptance 
And enriched in ways
That evolve and grow over time
The gift so deep, so true. 

Old friends
Shared history
And still CENTIPEDES
I am so grateful for these women
And our time together
The CENTIPEDE Society
Begun 50 + years ago lives on!
CARING
ENOUGH
NOT 
TO 
INSULT
PEOPLE
ENTHUSIASTICALLY
DOING
EVERYTHING

Or

CARING
ENOUGH
NOT
TO
INSULT
PEOPLE
EXPRESSING
DEEP
ENTHUSIASM

Old friends
Can disagree
Remember differently
And understand
That who we are now
Has been crafted in part
By early joys,
Sorrows,
Successes and mishaps

Old Friends
The flannel of life!
I am forever grateful!