In honour of the deep and abiding friendships that have sustained me throughout my life, I submit “Two Old Friends”.
“Best Mates” for almost sixty years, they’d met just after the war. One was almost a decade older than the other, one mercurial, the other a deep flowing river. Undemonstrative, in that dry, laconic way of Australian men, their love, and trust were implicit, unquestioned certainties. At one point, the younger became the leader, demonstrating his solicitude and appreciation through annual visits to the other’s now far removed location.
To listen to them yarn, to examine and solve the issues of the day, to chivvy and tease each other, advise and seek counsel, to test each other out, was to be privy to the essence of love.
RIP, gentlemen.
The Wanderlust Gene 
very moving, love and mateship, the rare essence of the australian male 🙂
Yes, without all the commercialised, politicised hoopla:(
Clearly they understood that “friendship” is a long enduring thing, with natural ups and downs ,unspoken flexibility, forgiveness and support required. True friendship is someone loving you in spite of who you are… and your recipricating the favour.
I fear that younger generations are getting very shallow, they want to stick around only if no better offer comes up, if they don’t get bored and if the other person always agrees with them. ..
My Bestie once came to dinner (i’m a hobby chef) and I really had an off-day— she put the fork in her mouth, then left the table (to get rid of the food) and came back announcing that she had eaten some of the best meals of her life at my place but this one… by a long shot ,definiately wasn’t one of them.
She then paid for the Pizza delivery and we chalked it up to experience and had a laugh. She loves me enough to tell me the truth, I love her enough to not be offended by it.. …that’s friendship.
That’s a very strong friendship, Kiwidutch. The type we all crave, or hope to have a couple of in our lives. There seem to be so many varying degrees of friendship, which can be confusing as we’re growing up, negotiating the maze of relationships … I don’t know that friendship itself is changing nowadays. I think what the younger people expect from, or want in their friendships might be more well-defined than ours used to be!
We’d better ask some young people! 🙂
What a lovely example of a long and enduring friendship! Tend to agree with Kiwidutch above. The respect and selflessness required for abiding relationships is kind of going out of style 😦
I don’t know, Madhu. Don’t you think perhaps that these special, lifetime friendships are a bit like inspiring marriages – rare enough to be remarkable in every era?
A sixty year old friendship… wow, that’s beautiful!
It was a beautiful friendship to be around!
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Beautiful. So I’ve just found something to work in to my Atlas. Friendships like this are the most fantastic thing in the world.
Yes, they are precious. Not all are destined to be like that though:)
Great work!
I hope I am equally blessed
Yes, we would all be so lucky!
Thanks:). Smile. (they had that effect on everyone).
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Wanderlust, this is beautiful. The endurance of friendship over such a long time; it leaves warmth even after it has finished. RIP, indeed. What a wonderful pair.
They were, Kate. They would probably have had a chuckle at my posting them as my pin-up friendship, then look quietly at eachother, the mercurial one would raise an eyebrow, they’d both smile again, before resuming whatever conversation they had been engrossed in at the time. Yes, their friendship still makes me smile.
This is a lovely post and a touching tribute. You have warmed my heart today, dear.
Ahh! As thinking about them still always warms mine:)
Dear people and fond memories have a way of doing that, don’t they…
Yea! And of missing them. Thanks:)
Another well written piece by Wanderlust.
Bless you for all your support Lynne:)
Are they relatives of yours?
Yes darlin’, the silver haired chap was my Papa:)
Weren’t they both silver haired?
Uncle Bill would have adored you for that! He was never known fold his hair covering. 🙂
Just love this post. Celebrating friendship between women is always wonderful and something to cherish, but mate-ship between two old boys spanning decades is something even more special. Cheers 🙂
That’s true, TSL. We tend to underestimate friendships between the blokes, but, I suspect, they’re even more important to them, than ours are to us! 🙂
Wonderful contribution. 😉
Thank you so much, I appreciate your support:)
This is an awesome photo. I like these two guys. Great pic. 🙂
It is so typical of their friendship that it must reflect the ease and companionableness they shared. Thanks for your comment:)
very few people gets to have that kind of friendship. How lucky :’)
Yes, they were. I figure they deserved it though – both very good men. Thanks for coming over for a look, and for your comment.
Lovely!
Their friendship was quite inspirational to be around – so thank you:)
Reblogged this on where'smyT-backandotherstories and commented:
Weekly Photo Challenge: FRIENDSHIP
From the blog of The Wanderlust Gene
That’s very kind of you Eva – thank you for your support:)
Gosh, you just made me cry!
You knew a friendship like that?
I’m catching up on posts, and this one is so good I’m glad I didn’t miss it – thank you for posting it. It’s a great thing to see old friends together. Wishing us all such fabulous long friendships. Something to aspire to. Mrs S. & I have been friends for 30 years & I think we have another 30 crazy years in us. One of the saddest & most moving experiences I’ve had was at a funeral of a woman I didn’t know – the mother of the G.O.’s brother-in-law… her best friend was in the row in front and you could feel the tangible presence of the departed there to console her.
Lets hope you and Mrs. S. have way more than 30 – though ‘crazy’ years may become a little leaner as you age:)
Glad you enjoyed the two old guys, and that it sparked love and memories. It certainly did it for me and the handful of friendships I’ve valued most throughout my life.
How beautiful…thanks for sharing and dropping by.
I enjoyed it. Thank YOU:)
Just an inspiring story of friendship that we all can learn from. Every friendship we should hope and strive to last for years if not a lifetime. Thanks for sharing,
It was an inspiring friendship, but I’m not sure every friendship has to potential to be that close, or than long lived. I do believe there are degrees of friendship, and that certain friendships are destined to ignite and burn out, just as passion does.
These, lifelong friendships of great intimacy are a special gift, I think and I always considered myself blessed to observe these two so closely. So glad you liked the story.
I like your old friends. Very good, Wanderlust!
Thank you Bente.