Celebrating My Youngest Oldest Friend

Hard to believe some little people call her "Grandma."

Retirement be damned: How can I not write a special post about a special lady whose birthday is today? My friend Melva made my life a lot brighter (and continues to do so) starting back in junior high and through our senior year. We shopped, we talked, we laughed, we mocked, we grew up. Her mother was a hoot, too, and spending time at her house was always a treat. But like everyone, after graduation we went our separate ways and lived long and complicated lives without each other. Then Facebook reunited us about six or seven years ago, and for that I shall forever remain indebted to Mark Zuckerberg.

Without a doubt, childhood friends are the best. You meet them when you are still an authentic person, not some snooty, phony, superficial grown-up stuffing the real you down into a hidden place somewhere underneath your pancreas. And when you finally reunite, those two authentic little people rush out, thrilled to be kids again. (As an activity, reminiscing simply can't be beat.)

For one thing, Melva "gets" me, and that's a rare thing. And for another, she's the original Benjamin Button: she absolutely never ages, which is nice to see in one of your contemporaries. Here's to growing another year younger, Mel!