My Mom recently shared a comment with me that she’d heard about old friends, and it resonated. She said “You can’t make old friends, either you have them or you don’t.”

I am Blessed and grateful to say that I have them. And she does too. Nothing like an old friend to come home to, over the phone, in a loving text exchange, or just a fond memory. Nothing like it for sure.

Or maybe there is something like it. The only thing I love as much as my lifelong friendships, are the old friends I have made through my Mom. These are women my Mom knew before I was born, and have known me all 50+ years of my life. Women who, were there when I completed school, there when I got married, there when we lost Alexis, there through my Mom’s trials and tribulations. One in particular, was there when my Stepfather died of complications from a brain tumor.

I was reminded of this when recently I was with my Mom and her friend. I hadn’t seen this friend in many years, maybe even over a decade. But as soon as I heard her voice, I was catapulted back to 2005, standing in my Mom’s kitchen with this old friend of my Mom’s. We’d just left the hospital where my Stepdad had taken his last breath.

”We need lunch, what’s here?” It was just the two of us. She looked in the fridge and around the countertop and quickly put together a tuna fish salad sandwich for us to split, along with a lonely apple that was just waiting to be enjoyed. We sat at the kitchen counter nourishing our bodies, making small talk and breathing.

The best part of that experience (and it was not an easy day) was hearing her voice. It took me all the way back to childhood. As we chatted, there were a few moments where everything was just fine. Hearing her voice was as comforting as the voice of my own Mom. And I desperately needed comfort, as the reality of my Stepfather’s death began to set in.

I could not be the person, the woman, the friend I am without my old friends. I am in awe of how they have stood by me through so much unthinkable loss and in great Joy. I continue to thank them frequently for things like making Alexis’ one and only birthday (spent at Children’s Hospital hooked up to chemo) so amazingly bearable and special. Truly miraculous.

But I also marvel at how the presence of a familiar voice from one of my Mom’s “old friends” could travel time and space so quickly. I am grateful for the wisdom these women impart on me, in little ways and in big. They love me because I am part of my Mom. I love them too and hope in some way they can also receive that same comfort from me. If ever needed.

For the record, I actually don’t think it is ever too late to make old friends. I plan to be around for a while, so if we meet today, we still have plenty of time!