It’s a song by Barbara Streisand. But it’s also something we all have that no one can take away from us. And there will come a time when memories are all we have left. As you get older, you realize that there are things you will never do again: snowmobiling on Christmas morning in the Rockies; diving the clear waters of the BVI’s; skiing down the mountain side in Wyoming; getting out bed in the morning with no pain.

When you can’t do anymore, it’s nice to be able to remember a time when you did. And it’s the same way with friends. People I was so close to in years gone by, I barely hear from anymore. Now I am sure this is probably as much my fault as there’s. Interests change. You find that you don’t have so much in common with some old friends. Or people move and out of sight becomes out of mind. I think it’s sort of sad to see old friends drift away and become only memories.

But thank God for the old friends who have remained close over the years. The one’s who have grown old and changed right along with you. The one’s you go out to dinner with. The one’s who always join you on an outing. The one’s who used to help you change the oil but are afraid now, if they got down on the ground, like you, someone would have to call the rescue squad to help them get back up.

Yes, friends come and go. But memories are forever. -dm