College Friendships

When a group of college friends meet to celebrate the wedding of one of their children, the meaning of friendship for over 40 years becomes special! Though this was not the first time we came together for a wedding such as this, it is my current sojourn, albeit for 27 months (16 down, 11 more to go) in Macedonia which has brought this camaraderie sharply into focus.

We met after we arrived as students at the University of Florida in late 1960's and had no family to celebrate the holidays with - and we became a 'family', staying in touch after graduation and jobs which took us to many different States in America. It is remarkable that after marriage the spouses accepted this friendship, with the same spirit that first brought us together and continue to welcome us into their homes without reservations further strengthening the bonds.

Though we all have since those days added many more friendships, I continue to marvel at this special relationship formed by strangers needing some kind of anchor at a time when travel was limited, there was no internet and computers filled huge rooms.