We met in the fall of 1964: Ann, Mary and Tish. JFK’s assignation was less than a year ago and The Beatles were the new group. High school freshmen at an all girls school, we had not yet come of age.
We were not yet a trio and wouldn’t be for another 46 years. Back then we hung out along with other friends and dished about boys, our moms, the nuns, and the latest group on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Graduation arrived followed by three different colleges. The letters flew back and forth…for awhile. Same topics: boys, our moms, our classes, but now also our faith as we made the journey from what was taught to what we believed and back again.
I walked down the aisle in both of their weddings and sent congratulation cards for at least the first babies. Before long, only an annual Christmas card defined our relationship.
Occasionally, two of us would pop up out of the long season of life of ten children between us and meet for lunch or stop by on a road trip but never three at the same time. No one lived in the same town anymore and besides we all had new friends.
In a minute, we all turned 60. Mary invited six of the girls from the class of ’68 to reconnect for a long weekend on Washington Island to celebrate and only Ann and I RSVP’d YES. I must admit to some curiosity and anxious thoughts, would this really work?
Our first Queens weekend in 2010
By the time we got to the first traffic light, the forty-plus years of separate lives gave way to a sweet alchemy of affection, safety and delightful expectation of what the weekend would look like. We all gave it a 20 on a 1-10 scale and couldn’t wait for our next reunion. A year later we returned and so did the magic.
Columbus day weekend 2012
Last weekend was our third time together. We call ourselves the Island Queens or occasionally the “high school sweethearts.” We still talk about the boys we love (now husbands), our moms and our faith and like most girlfriends… recipes, diets, our children and now grandchildren: eight between us and counting.
We plan to meet annually forever or as long as we can. As I quoted in my first blog post (http://wp.me/pPRDV-1e)… “It takes a long time to grow an old friend.” John Leonard.
Hope for the Best 
“There’s nothing like an old friend… unless you can catch yourself a new one fit to make an old one out of.”
So true. Glad you are an old friend Deb!