Old Friends

Now like many of you, that title inspires thoughts of Simon and Garfunkel singing 'Bookends,' yet in this instance I am not trying to pay homage to the gifted song writer that is Paul Simon, rather I would like to focus on the first part of this term - Old.

I'm not sure why, but I've always had friends that are older than me. Sometimes my friends were a year or two older, but sometimes they were twenty years older than me. For example, it was a strange phenomenon as a 19 year old, first year university student at Guelph to leave my friends at the U.C. to have lunch with my friend Fred, a sociology professor at that very university. Likewise, I remember dinner parties and 40 birthday parties with my friend Joyce when I was barely in my 20s. The latest addition to this elite group of friends is one of my colleagues who I teach with, Anne. It is great to be able to describe your co-workers as friends and to wish to spend time with them outside of work. We've been having fun shopping and having lunch - the usual girl things to do. And when I am with Anne, just like those who have gone before, I feel that we are simply friends, and I do not think about the age spread or the life experience that we do not have in common. However, there are moments when this realization hits me and yesterday was one such day.

Anne and her family (husband and two sons) came to Leeds for the day. Our midwifery students, and all elementary and secondary students in the UK have this week and next week off for their Easter holiday, so both Anne and I are also taking some days off to relax. And, Anne and clan decided that coming to Leeds and going to the Royal Armouries Museum (www.royalarmouries.org) would be a good way to spend one of these days. This was a great way to spend the day. It was good to go to the Armouries museum as it is spitting distance from our flat and now I can say I've been. Yet, it was a little odd when we went to see the Falconry demonstration and we were able to buy a 'Family Pass' to attend the event. I guess I should be thankful for my youthful, good looks (!) that allow me to pass for the daughter of a 45 year old. But, it was also a reminder that there are vast differences between Anne and I. I was five years old when she got married. She's ten years away from retirement and I am just starting my career. What does this phenomenon say about me? When it comes to friendship, does it matter if there is an age spread?