Old friends

[Lola]

What is it about friends we've had for years? Why do some friendships "stick" and some don't?

I just got off the phone with an old college roommate. We met in the fall of 1979 - the first day of our first semester of freshman year of college. I couldn't stand her. She was loud, obnoxious, engaged in risky behavior with no concern for consequences, and pushed boundaries I was far too cautious to challenge.

We were roommates by the next semester and remained so for the next two years. She was still loud, obnoxious, and risky - only now I loved her! (And I was learning to step WAY out of my comfort zone). To this day I have never been so thrilled and so shocked by any one person. I've also never laughed so much with any one else.

Our paths parted 25 years ago. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS!!! We rarely talk or see each other - maybe every couple of years or so - yet when we do, it's like I just saw her yesterday. We jump into conversation as if we just talked last night. As if there had been no gap in contact whatsoever. She's still a rebel. She still challenges me. She still makes me laugh like I'm 18 years old.

What makes that sort of thing possible?

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by Lola

What makes that sort of thing possible?

Magic!

More seriously, though, I think the mind is just very good at sorting important memories from unimportant ones. When you meet an old friend, those important 'files' are brought back up pretty quickly.