Old Friends

 

There can be much joy in meeting up  with long-lost friends – or much disillusionment!

Thankfully, I can report having much joy over the weekend when I met up with some friends I had not seen for nearly thirty years.

Ostrich Foot shell, Otamarakau Beach

While in the supermarket last week, I had been approached by a woman who thought she knew me.  I never recognised her at all, but when she said her name I could then see she was the much older version of my one-time friend.

Through a series of events (nothing malicious), our ways had separated in the early 1990s and although I had heard odd reports of her and her husband, I had never met up with them again.

Ram's Horn shells, Ruapuke Beach

It was with some trepidation that I set out to have afternoon tea with them, not really knowing what to expect.  Our respective children have all grown up, her husband has now retired, and I am now a widow.

But everything went well and we laughed a lot over our reminiscences and caught up on what had been happening with mutual acquaintances.  

Sand Dollar shell, Waikawau Bay

I even discovered another friend, whom I had believed dead, was still alive and I intend catching up with her this week if I can.

Good friends can make the world a happier place 😊

Margaret.