65 Years of Friendship- 5 Tips to Making a Forever Friend

My sweet (but sometimes spicy) Granny has been best friends with Emily for 65 years!

They met in 5th grade, where they quickly became inseparable. My 5’2 Granny told me they had to be careful, because Emily was so short. (Insert my seemingly disrespectful laughter and a mean look from Granny here.)

Every day Granny wore a belt with her dress for the sole purpose of ensuring Emily had something to hold onto as she fought her way against the towering upperclassmen in the hall. Their friend circle would grow and change, but their friendship remained a constant.

After marriage and jobs, both Granny and Emily had daughters around the same time, and the girls grew up together and became very best friends.

There were periods when “life happened” and the friends went months without seeing each other, but the foundation was there, and they always picked right up where they left off without it ever being awkward.

Emily, who now lives 3 hours away, recently called to say that she would be visiting and that she really wanted to try out the zipline that went over the river from Georgia to Alabama. Granny agreed to go with her, and we were shocked. I don’t know that she would have said to yes to anyone else.

Eliza and I tagged along on their zipline adventure, where Granny and Emily spent the morning laughing like silly school girls.

At one point, the group couldn’t find them because they went ahead decided to try the treetop ropes course. I guess trouble can find you at any age.

After the zipline trip, Emily told me, “There are acquaintance, friends, and real friends. Anyone who has a friendship like ours has the real deal.”

I was so inspired by their sweet relationship, that I asked Granny and Emily to share their best tips for maining a friendship.

Here is Their advice:

Value Your History
Years of inside jokes and stories are valuable, and you don’t want to throw that away. Sure, new friendships and relationships are important, but don’t get so comfortable in your oldest relationships that you end up letting them slip away.
Make Time For Each Other
When life gets busy, it’s easy to brush off your friends, but when you put in the work you get so much back in return. Show up, even when it’s not convenient. When you push through, eventually your relationship will have such a strong foundation that you can go years without seeing each other, and pick back up right where you left off as if no time had passed at all. Take time to build that foundation early in your relationship.
Lighten Up!
Life is serious enough. There is enough hard times and tragedy, there is no need to create more. Don’t abandon girls nights and morning coffee chats. Be silly. Laugh together, and don’t underestimate the importance of just having fun.
Have Their Back
If anyone messes with your closest friends or family, you should always have their back. Granny shared a story of someone trying to confront Emily in the local library, and Granny blocked her and said, “I don’t care what she did, you are going to have to go through me first.” I am not advocating violence, I am just delivering the story. Remember, sweet Granny can also be spicy sometimes.
Assume the Best
The longer you know someone, the more you are going to pick up on their worst traits. It’s easy to notice shortcomings and to become cynical when they mess up. It’s important to remember that we all have bad habits and we all make mistakes. When you aren’t sure what to think about something your friend did, always lean towards the side of compassion.
In true friendships, you don’t have to be so guarded, you can open up and be vulnerable because history has taught you that this friend will always be on your side.