Open Thread Update: Who’s Your Oldest Friend?

66 years old and I am still friends with 5 guys that I met in freshman year of high school. That is 52 years. We were in the honor class homeroom in an all-boys Catholic high school in Boston. We went to different colleges and grad schools but have always been friends. Best man in each other’s weddings and godfathers to each other’s kids. We are like brothers.

Oldest/first friends

So who has had their first/oldest friend longest?  Maybe reader Joann has the title:

 I am only 15 hours older than my oldest and best friend. We literally met in the nursery of the hospital where we were born. Our moms became friends because our births were so different. We were born on Leap Day. We have been friends since birth. My dad called us the Twinsies, and her dad called us by each other’s names. I introduced her to her husband.  We ALWAYS celebrate our real birthday together. We talk on the phone like teenagers. 76plus years BFF,.

 My friend and I have been that way practically since we were born.
Claudia turned 80 in July and I am the “younger one “ who will join her in December. Our parents were neighbors and friends , and not surprisingly, so were we. And here we are , all these decades later, still sharing our lives and maintaining a healthy but more distant awareness. We did everything possible together, even having our tonsils removed the same day! Now, that is close!

Bobbi S. met her pal next door in Queens when she was three and another when she was five. And they all live near each other!

I’m 77 years old. I met my oldest friend, J., when she moved into the house next door to me in Queens, NY—we were three years old. My next oldest friend, E., I met a few years later, in Kindergarten (we were five years old.) I mention both of these women, since each of us eventually moved to Berkeley, CA, where we all still live. Both of these life-long friends are godmothers to my son (it was impossible to choose just one) and they both attended his wedding just last weekend!

Some readers stay in touch the old fashioned way…

I’ve have most of my 7 best friends since elementary school, all were classmates one time or another. When we graduated from high school we started a chain letter which for 71 years is still making its rounds through five states – at one time internationally. . We call, text, email and occasionally get together but still look forward to that chain letter! Love those best friends.

-Denise

Tech support

I’m 75 and met Vivian in 6th grade. She moved into our school district and was the new kid. We became best friends, living a block apart in a town 2 miles square. We met our husbands together at age 15 at the local ball park. We are now both widows, but we FaceTime every Friday night, along with another friend from grade school, Donna, also a widow. We reminisce, but we also talk about current events. I left our small town and reside 500 miles away, but we are still close as can be!

-Linda T.

At age 75 I am still in touch with a boy and a girl from kindergarten. Until they relocated outside of NYC, I’d see them from time to time, now not for some years. But we Zoom, exchange emails, cards, and letters around birthdays and holidays to bring one another up on news.

-Wendl

Reunions!

Wait, There’s more

There were a few poignant reminiscences as well, from Reader Elaine and Reader Betty about longtime friends they’ve lost. You’ll also enjoy reading about the “’70 plus club” of friendships that go the distance, like Reader JT and Irene C.

YOUR TURN

Original Column

Is there really anything as comforting and fun as getting together with old friends?  I’m still close with a lot of the gals I knew in high school.  It doesn’t matter how long its been, we can just pick up where we left off.

As we grow older, it becomes more challenging to keep up old ties.  Folks are busy with grandchildren or aging parents, and people move.  Time can be a problem between the retirees and those still working. It sometimes take more work.

It’s worth it, though.  Old friends take us back, in a way, to our younger selves.

Lately I’ve been asking my friends how long they’ve had their oldest friend. Several said they were still in touch with grammar school pals… but I just learned of someone who might be the winner of the Oldest/Longest Friend title.

My colleague just mentioned that she had lunch recently with three friends she’s known… since pre-school. 

YOUR TURN

How about it?  Tell us about the friend or friends you’ve had the longest! And how does tech help you stay in touch?

Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog “Don’t Get Me Started” puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City. Send your suggestions for Open Threads to her at editor@seniorplanet.org.