I think there are 2 kinds of old friends in life… The first is the friend that seamlessly wanders in and out of touch. They are like a favored pair of jeans (or flip flops) and they come with an ease and comfort that only time provides. You can go weeks or months or sometimes even years without contact and then the phone rings (or your inbox dings) and there they are. You meet up or trade emails, and it is as if no time has passed. You are still walking parallel paths and can finish thoughts and sentences…
The second type lacks the permanent comfort or instant ease. You smile and are genuinely happy to hear from them. But the bond has weakened with time. And while you’ll always treasure memories, you just don’t fit together like you used to. Perhaps you have moved too far in different directions.
As one of my goals for this year, I’m reading East of Eden. Again. I had always figured it would be like old friend type one. Always approachable and a lasting connection–easy to slip back into. But? I’m surprised to find that isn’t true. I like it, I’m enjoying parts of it… But… Perhaps I know it too well by now? Or maybe we have just gone different directions and I’m not the high schooler that fell in love with it. Either way, I’m finding myself rushing to get to favorite sections and then stalling out once I’ve read this or that particular chapter. In fact, I’m currently 2/3rds of the way through and have no desire to pick it back up. (That may or may not be related to the return of certain TV shows. Ahem.)
Because we once were so close, I’ll stick it out and read to the end. But honestly? I’m already looking ahead to a book for the month of February.
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Old Friends
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