Old Friends

I had a visit today with an old friend whom I haven’t seen since high school. I looked across the table as we visited and saw his dad rather than the boy my friend had been. We all grow up to be our parents it seems. I know I have been told my looks and mannerisms are just like my dad’s. Even the sound of my voice seems more like my father’s than my own.
My friend has his father’s wit and looks much like the man who once taught me math. He is a proud example of his upbringing. It is hard to live in the shadow of our parents sometimes, but once we mature and leave the nest, we develop into a replica of the people who raised us.
It took only a few minutes for us to forget about the many changes in our lives. As we visited, we were the high school friends we had been forty-five years earlier. Our stories have changed but the connection is still there. Memories of the old days have faded but we still have time to make new ones.
Too short was our visit, till next time dear friend. He will continue on in his travels and pleasure in new experiences. A visit later in the year is planned and there will reunite with many more old friends. It will be so good to renew our conversations and build on what we have started today.