Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Serena's Birthday

Friendship can be defined in many ways. Some people stay in touch weekly, daily, monthly...for us-living a continent apart-three times a year seems to be what we manage. But we're still friends, thinking of each other on birthdays, waiting for the card we remember to send, marveling at her wonderful valentine greetings that are creative and whimsical. So after seventy years how do I remember Serena?... the person who told me at 50 that she still feels as if she's seventeen. The person who suffered through a hurricane season at a Connecticut resort where we were both childrens' counselors. The person who sat next to me in college. The person with whom I double dated. She's had an adventurous life and not always a contented one. But she's made it through, contributes to her city, does art, has good childen. To me she'll always be my "best friend" of high school and college. I think of her often and as we enter our 70th year, I'll raise a glass to her health and long life and yes, happiness!