One is silver and the other gold

Do you remember that song from girl scouts? Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.

I found a dear friend that I lost track of a couple years ago. We met when I was 19. We were friends when she got engaged and married and when I found out I was expecting my first son. She told me she was expecting her first child the day Zech was born. They were nine months apart and when I stayed home and she went back to work, I watched her daughter. Zech and M were nine months apart and M called me Nanny. I loved that little girl. The years went by and we both continued to build our family. I had Jake, she had H and then when I was pregnant with Eli, I stopped babysitting but our friendship was still as strong as ever.

However, they relocated to Columbus around the time I was pregnant with Baila and she went on to have another baby too. Seven kids, many miles and life got in the way but after my divorce when I was barely managing my day to day life, it became even more difficult to keep up with those that were so far away. I went to Columbus with another friend to visit about 5 years ago and that was our last visit. Finally, we both moved and changed numbers and addresses and lost each other.

This past week, baby M (who is now almost 16!!!!) found me on Facebook and I have been laughing and crying and catching up ever since. I can't believe I let life get in the way of a 17 year friendship! I can't believe how much I missed and how much both of us have been through the last couple of years. I can't even wrap my brain around all the twists and turns and changes and pain and joy that life has brought and I can't believe we are SO OLD to have children who are almost driving!

At any rate, I am so happy to have "found" my dear friend again, I grieve that I wasn't around when she probably really needed me and I wish she didn't live so far away but that's ok. I'll take what I can get.

Also, I am thankful to Al Gore for inventing the internets. I met my husband, found my dog and now reconnected with a dear friend all because of the magic of the internet! You should try it, this thing might really catch on!