"Hanging With Old Friends And Saying "Remember When"

1987

  Old Friends

 Or 

Old Friends?  

Camp.

Sports.

Pre~school.

High School.

College.

Military.

Life.

 Just as we have cherished friends that we have met later in life and they know us inside and out, we have friends that have stuck with us, whether through memories or actually still being a part of our lives.   Many of these Individuals are friends that were made during or after college in our adult or "older" life (hence "old" friends).  For the lucky ones, you have friends that you have known almost your whole life (hence the second "old" friends).  These individuals are friends who have the pictures of you when you were like 6 years old in Brownie uniforms or prom or playing basketball in high school.  They are the ones who know why you cry when you look at old pictures of your mom because they knew her well, they grew up with her.  To keep these friendships intact takes effort and traditions!  You may live close by or you may live across the country, and you may not talk to these friends for what feels like decades.  The coolest thing about childhood friendships like that is that these people knew you 40 years ago and they are that same person after so many years.

Friends Since 1960's

Friends since 1980's

Friends since 1970's

1990

  This past weekend both my husband and I were lucky enough to spend some quality time with our childhood friends and our kids at the same time.  My daughter and I went to a camp reunion where she spent time with her childhood friends from the past 13 years and she got to see me catch up with my friends from 40 years ago!  My husband, youngest daughter, and son-in-law went to Canada with my husbands childhood friends. (The 4 amazing guys pictured above have been best friends since grade school.)  They have made this a tradition every summer for the past 6 years  The kids get to see them share old memories while making new ones.  Sharing the importance of lifetime friendships with our kids will hopefully teach them how having these special people still a part of your life when you are pushing 50, is one of the most extraordinary feelings in the world.  If you are lucky enough to have these people in your life, (even if it is through facebook!) you should consider your life very full.  I saw many this weekend who I haven't seen for years, but felt like no time had gone by.  Teaching our kids about how to be a good friend will help them to understand the importance of having these individuals in their lives years from now.  When you have experienced certain things as a child, such as camps or sports, where you shared special memories or moments, these are the things you will never forget!

LOVE. WARMTH. KINDNESS. SMELLS. FEELINGS. MEMORIES. LIFE

If You Build It They Will Come~

If you build it...They will come.  Or better yet, in our case if you buy it (with plans to rebuild it and retire in it) they will come.  That is our secret plan...our kids will never want to leave.  Call it what you want, the cabin, the lake, up north...it all means the same thing...togetherness.  We bought our "dream" 4 years ago on the shores of the beautiful Lower South Long Lake.  As we go into summer #5 we know that our kids will keep coming back.  It's not a question of "if" they can come for the weekend, it's "how many nights" they can stay!   My husband and I both grew up spending summers on the water. It became very evident to us that we needed to continue  this lake life tradition into not only our kids lives but someday our grandchildren's lives.  Well, so far so good.  We have met the most amazing neighbors who have turned into friends through boating, campfires, s'mores and many starry nights.  We looked at so many houses on so many lakes, but as soon as we walked into the house on South Long Lake we knew this was it!

Not only was our underlying intent of buying the cabin for our kids, but for extended family and friends as well...
Our "secret plan" is in motion.
4 years in and 4 family reunions later...
The same weekend every summer...
25guests (and getting bigger every year!).
boats.
jetskis.
bikes.
toys.
tents.
campers.
campfires.
food.
dogs.
babies.
family!

We have made so many incredible memories in so few years that we can't even to begin to imagine what's to come.  Our best memory yet...
our now son-in-law asking our daughter to marry him on her 23rd birthday on the dock at sunrise.  This happened during our 3rd annual Family Weekend!  Every weekend we are there we are making new memories.  It is very rare that you will find that the weekend is "just us".  Although we do cherish the quiet weekends we have there, they are few and far between.  We welcome everyone and friends of everyone...our door is always open and that makes us happy! Lake Life Is Good😊