What if you had a friend, a person that you hadn’t seen in a long time? I mean, a very, VERY long time? Like, what if you hadn’t seen this person in over 35 years? And what if you hadn’t really ever been close friends, even way back in the past?
What if that friend had moved across the ocean decades ago, and had created a whole new life in Europe?
And what if you sort of stumbled upon each other, through a whole network of mutual friends, on Facebook? How would you feel if it turned out that the old, nearly forgotten friend seemed to be really, really in tune with your entire life philosophy?
What would you do?
What if that old friend, that boy you hadn’t seen since he was an adorable nineteen year old, suddenly said that he was coming to the US? What would you do?
I bet you’d do pretty much what I did!
I invited him to spend a couple of days with us!
So now I am sitting in my living room, waiting for Paul to bring Thomas home to our house. The house is clean(ish). The dogs are fed. The guest room is all made up. I have vegan snacks and vegan dinner (yay, pizza!) all ready. I have beer on ice and wine in the fridge.
I’m nervous!
What if I seem really old? I mean, the last time we saw each other, I was young and thin and dark haired! What if Thomas hates dogs? What if he hates my vegan pizza?
What if I am being a complete loonie tune right now, and what if I am forgetting that even in the late fifties, people can reestablish old friendships? What if I am underestimating my friend, expecting him to be all judgy and unkind?
What if, once Thomas gets here, and we all sit down to our pizza and snacks and wine and beer, it turns out that we really truly do have so much in common? What if we talk about climate change, and Bernie Sanders and marriage equality, and what if we laugh and reminisce and tell funny stories?
What if we find out that even after all these years, even after so much change and growth and aging, we are still able to find like-minded souls out there in the big world?
What if it turns out that all those years ago, when I wasn’t wise enough to see it, I was already in the presence of a very good friend?
Empty Nest, Full Life 
Oh my goodness how exciting. How brave also. I can’t wait to hear how you get on.
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It was fabulous: we have so much in common, and still share so many values. Also, we laughed together!
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I think the laughing together is the greatest connection of all. Delighted for you.
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I wouldn’t have your courage!
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He is the courageous one! It was a fabulous couple of days with my friend. I feel my world expanding!
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I know you’re going to have a great time and that inviting him will turn out to be one of the best things you ever did.
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It was really fun! And it let me reconnect with his brother, too. What fun to stroll down memory lane……
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If you can’t bond as old friends, you can bond as new ones.
Just think of how many romances start at high school reunions (I know that’s no!t in the cards as you’re happily married, but you know there are people you didn’t know that maybe you should have known then!)
I met a new/old friend at a reunion a few years ago. We didn’t know each other at all back in the day. We would have been great friends if we had.
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So true, Elyse! We all really did bond as “new friends” I think. And we are very much looking forward to meeting Tom’s partner, Wolfgang, next summer (so there is another reason why “romance” was not in the cards, at least for me and Tom!
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I can’t wait to hear the next installment.
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Maybe you’ll read about us all leading some kind of leftist revolutionary movement!
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Ha
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1. You’re not the same person you were then.
2. He’s not the same person he was then.
3. It’s never too late for two people who never met to become friends.
Just saying…
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Indeed!
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How exciting! I look forward to hearing all about the reunion!
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