Tom at the beach...

Last week Tom and I were in Florida for a little break. We stayed with my parents, their house is conveniently located very close to the beach. It was short notice and they graciously let us invade their house.   We knew that my parents had friends that were down for the month of March, and we would stay out of their way. (which of course we didn’t have to)

The New Pool!

Their friends were staying in a house one street down, so staying with my parents was not a problem.

We were finally able to meet my father’s “infamous” life long friends, or a few of them.

Bobby showing Tom a site on the computer

Mom and Anna having a chat

Christy and Carol

Mom and Christy at the pool

Here is the history:

Many years ago, my father grew up in this magical, mystical town, Morristown NJ, and had friends from all different races and ethnicities.  Now mind you, it was the late 40’s and 50’s.  He graduated in 1957.   Seriously…the 40’s and 50’s!  Prejudice and discrimination was never a part of his vocabulary.  He taught us well!  Amazing!

Growing up, I heard stories, many funny stories, of all of his friends,  but it wasn’t until after I had graduated and married that my father really began to keep in much closer touch with his “forever friends”.  He never missed a class reunion, but as the years went by, too much time would pass between reunions, and they began calling each other.  They began to have get-togethers

I never really got the whole “why”  they decided to spend more time together, as I was knee deep in children, babies and toddlers…

Over the years, they would make bigger plans and spend a week or 2 with each other.  Now, I get this, as I have my girlfriends that I have my week long getaways, and dinners and weekend getaways with my “BFF’s”.    These are necessary trips for us!!

Until this last week,I had never met my parent’s friends,  I was finally able to meet a few of the “gang”

Let me tell you, I was not disappointed…

Mom and Dad

I met Bobby, the Pagano’s (they left the day after we got there), Carol, and I met Anna.  We were invited to their cocktail parties, and a BBQ, and an amazing dinner they had for my parent’s 50^th anniversary.  (That is another blog post…50 years!)

It was wonderful.

Bobby and Dad cooking

Bobby and Dad discussing sauce

It was quite an experience to watch my dad and Bobby, who he has known since preschool, and Anna and Carol.  Here they are in their early 70’s, we watched them banter and bicker and laugh and love. You could tell that they have known each other forever.  They are so comfortable with each other that they banter/bicker like siblings, and no one is offended, they love to laugh and they love to love each other.  They have included my mom in their world, which is an added gift.   I had moments, watching them, that I couldn’t help but see Anya and Cooper and Lane in 50 plus years!

Kids at a party

Cooper and Anya

Lane, Anya and Cooper

It made me laugh.  It all brought me joy.  I loved watching this amazing relationship between these adults.  I am so very glad that I finally met all of these wonderful people, and that my mom and dad are blessed to have such good friends in their life.

It showed me once again, the preciousness and blessing of friendship.  I am blessed with my friends and it blesses me to see my children have the beginnings of their life long friends, and to see my parents enjoying their retirement years, enjoying life  and sharing life with their lifelong friends.

It is really what life is all about…family and friends.