COMMENTS

39 responses to “Open Thread Update: Who’s Your Oldest Friend?”

1. My oldest friend I met at my first full time job after h.s. At first she was a major biotch. Sarcastic to me, ridiculing and trying to tell me how to live my life. One day I said to her, I’ll save and spend my money any way I please and it’s none of your business. After that she befriended me and we hung out in personal lives and I stood up at her wedding. I’m now 66 and we still keep up via internet and Zoom. We both happen to have MS as well. Mind blowing, right! I love her.

   Reply to Tessa

2. Love this articule. I also have the treasure of long time friends.

   Reply to Norma Álvarez

3. 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 schoolsm but have always been friends. Best man in each other’s weddings and godfathers to each other’s kids. We are like brothers.

   Reply to Larry C

4. Two sisters are my oldest friends. Helen was born in 1940. I was born in 1941 and Polly was born in 1942. My birthday was August 19 and my friends came to Denver from Boulder and Woodland Park to have a birthday lunch with me. We hugged and laughed and giggled and had a wonderful time. We had all gone our different ways but always kept in touch.

   Reply to Eva Fern

5. Hello! I met my oldest friend Bob in 2nd grade, and we’re both about to turn 70. Several of us moved into NYC, and had the time of our lives. Lives diverge, and we kept in touch sporadically, and just 9 months ago, he moved back to the home state and now lives only 70 miles away instead of 3,000. It’s lovely remembering grade school, high school and young 20s in New York. I’m so happy and grateful he’s close by now.

   Reply to Christina Sluberski

6. I think I have you all beat. 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,

   Reply to Joannlifshitz

   1. What an incredible story and most valuable friendship!!!

      Reply to Joanne T.

7. Professor Paul,
   Sorry but I got you beat! 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!

   Reply to Carole DeMartino

8. 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!

   Reply to Bobbi Sloan

9. I met L. when my family moved to York, England when I was 15 . I say “met” but we didn’t really as she was a year ahead of me and as the new girl at school I had many challenges to integrate into new surroundings. Imagine my surprise when L. was the person who left food in the fridge when I moved to Washington, D,.C. at age 35. Then I really got to appreciate her many wonderful attributes. Sadly, L. died at 79 but our friendship endured through many life and country changes.

   Reply to Elizabeth M. Diamond

   1. I love the feature on “Old Friends”

      Reply to Elizabeth M. Diamond

10. 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’ve congratulated each other as babies were born and supported each other through health crises. We call, text , email and occasionally get together but still look forward to that chain letter! Love those best friends.

    Reply to Dianne Schow

    1. I added 10-years to our ages. Our chain letter has been circulating for 61+ years.

       Reply to Dianne Schow

11. Most of my friends have been my friends for at least 30 years! I have several I have known for 50 years. I make new friends easily and have made more than a handful in the last 5 years. They all bring different experiences into my life, from volunteer groups, to travel companions, to zip lining! I am so blessed!

    Reply to Margaret Hays

12. 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!

    Reply to Linda Tucker

13. I have been friends with KEWA since 1965; we met on the first day of high school, so that makes 59 years! She lives overseas and we use FaceTime to stay in touch.

    Reply to LMW

14. We met in second grade. We’re now 73. We haven’t lived in the same state since college, but stay in touch the old-fashioned way: telephone.

    Reply to Marilyn Turner

15. I just got together with 5 of my childhood friends. We met when we were 7 years old and went through high school together as well as Girl Scouts from age 7-18. We meet up every year usually somewhere in WA state where we all grew up. We had a blast. Just like old times! Really a wonderful five days together.

    Reply to Bonnie Boyle

16. I am now 85 years old. My dearest friend now apart by 3000 miles started school with me at 6 years old. We were next door neighbors and the only 2 houses on that street. We graduated HS together, married 2 weeks apart and were in each other’s wedding. We both had BS college degrees and when we graduated we were both 8 months pregnant, Our first born were one week apart. We kept in touch and remained close. Now we reminisce our friendship years through her husband because she has Alzheimer’s.

    Reply to Elaine

17. Excellent subject Virge! A real problem for us older adults. And… what to do when one is so much older, that all friends, acquaintances, and family are gone? Of course I sorely miss to remnisce with them about our happy youth. A logical answer?: stop lamenting and start making new friends…but alas at our age this has proven one of the most difficult efforts in life! Many generous sites offer platforms to facilitate friendships but… not even these offers help very much. :(

    Reply to Ade P.

    1. @Ade P. This topic is one of the hardest for me. I moved around locally for awhile after college but lost touch with everybody. Never went to a reunion bec I always felt inferior . Made new friends when I got a new boyfriend but he turned out to be mean. I moved away over 30 yr ago to get away from him. Met a new guy and we got married. Even tho FB was an easy way to look people up
       I think so much time had gone by we didn’t know each other anymore. I regret it a lot.

       Reply to 53classic

       1. Hi 53Classic, I’m sorry this site doesn’t allow to write one’s phone number or email address. I thought we might try to see if we could be friends? I can see from your post here that we could have a lot to talk about lol! Anyway, if you happen to live in NYC maybe we could meet? If so, I think we could arrange our meeting here. If not, perhaps we could use Twitter. Let me know? :) Ade P.

18. Along with my friend from 4th grade, we just successfully hosted out 61st high school reunion Saturday, September 14, 2024. Better yet.. we called it the 60’s Decade Reunion to include years 1960 – 1969 and being from a small Adirondack village classmates before and after our class were invited. Small town – we know the families and our sisters and brothers friends attended. This is our 2nd year, last year we expected maybe 30 attendees and we ran out of name tags at 40 . Magical.

    Reply to Nancy Bristol

19. I have known my best friend since second grade. That’s a long time.

    Reply to Rosanne DeGraff

20. I met my 3 “sisters”, Al, KB and JT when we were 4 years old in pre-k. We turned 65 this year. We were in the same kindergarten class too and we have the picture to prove it. We call ourselves the “Kindergarten Crew.” On each of our birthdays, we have a virtual birthday party and we get together when we can. I love those ladies and I am so glad that we have been there for each other through all of of life’s ups and downs.

    Reply to Debra Brooks

21. Re: Old Friends
    Best I can remember, I’ve known my longest friend for about 70 years. His name is Ron? From beginning of high school (maybe 13 or 14 y/o) , thru college, thru our working careers, and well into our retirement years (now 83 y/o). You are right – – oldest friends are the best. I now have had several friends for about the past 45 – 50 years, but while they are treasured, my oldest friend still feels like the best.

    Reply to JT Beard

22. I am 72 years young. I have a friend for amost 57 years. When my husband died my daughter called her and told her I needed her. Linda got out of bed, dressed and came to me at the hospital. I will never ever forget seeing her. I ran to her crying. She just held me until I calmed down. I live Linda forever!!

    Reply to Earlene Garfold

23. My longest time friend I have had for 71 years. We were both in the 5th grade in Memphis, Tennessee. I sang at her wedding. She and her husband live in a suburb of Memphis. Over the years we have gotten together several times. She has dementia now and when I telephone her, she thinks at first that I am in Memphis, rather than Florida where I have lived for 40 years. We are both now 81 y.o. and will always be besties

    Reply to Irene S. Clark

24. 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.

    Reply to WENDL

25. My friend of 72 years died on 6/27/2024. I have buried my husband, parents, relatives and so many others. This was the most hurtful of all because I was prepared to lose the others. Somehow I always thought I would have Priscilla to walk thru the rest of life with, laughing, crying, and planning. She could always make me feel better. Yes, I was naive and at my age I should really know better. What I should know and how I feel are two vastly different emotions!

    Reply to Betty

    1. condolences on your loss.

       Reply to Virge

26. I have a good friend for 71 years. Because our mothers were best friends, too, we grew up in each other’s homes.

    We are computer-literate, so we Zoom or talk on our cell phones. I try to visit her once a year so we can catch up on all the little details of each other’s lives that we don’t take time to share on Zoom.

    Neither of us has a sister, so we are like sisters. She shares her children and grandchildren with me because I don’t have any. I’m lucky to have her for my forever friend.

    Reply to Mary Wade

27. Nice contest, Virge !
    My entry goes with a “top three” [I’m in NY State]
    1 — One friend from age 5 – Billy B, now living out-of state in the South, but active on Facebook
    2 —one from age 6 – Anthony P, also living out-of-state (mid-west) and talk with on a regular basis
    and
    3 —one from age 7 – Michael B, (west coast) and communicate with regularly.
    Might make a top 100 anyway, if you are ranking !

    Kudos to anyone who can claim legit earlier in age; best here
    year span is 66 years!

    Reply to (Prof.) Paul J. Gammarano, Sr.; M.A.,JD

28. My longest friendship is 75 years. Karen and I met as next door neighbors when we were both 5 years old. It’s like having the sister I always wished to have. We can spend a month or more with no communication and pick up right where we left off. It’s wonderful

    Reply to Vicki Barber

29. I have had and still have a great friend that I have known since we could crawl. We are one month apart. My parents moved when I was 14 but we wrote a lot of letters back and forth. Since we still had relatives in NY we drove up quite often. As soon as I could drive I drove up almost every weekend. We are currently 72 but don’t communicate much over text or computer. We call and talk on the phone. Easier on the hands! I have other friends I worked with in the 70’s that I still see often.

    Reply to Karen Karsseboom

30. I’ve known and still keep in touch with my oldest friend who is 87. Our mothers were pregnant at the same time. My friend beat me by 2 months. We went to the same nursery school in Brooklyn, the same elementary school and were in the same “1B” class . We attended the same high school and the same college. She now lives in FL and I’m in NY, but we call and text each other to report on births and deaths.

    Reply to Anita L. Jaffe

31. My friend of 69 years has been mostly great. We met when I was 13 now 82. We were soda jerks, served in the U.S.Army, and worked years together. We still try to meet up about 3 or 4 times a month to go over the world problems and some fishing and crabbing .

    Reply to Dale Jordan

32. Our class just had our 62nd class reunion; graduating in 1962. We had a great turnout for the four days of activities. Five of the girls started kindergarten together. We stay in touch over these many years.

    Reply to Carol

33. This year I began my 81st year. Since I was 50, 11 of us childhood girlfriends have had regular reunions. Two others and I we’re each other’s first friends when our mothers got us together when we were three years old.

    Reply to Cynthany Windwalker