A long time ago, before flexible joints bowed before the ravages of time and became creaky knees or sore ankles, a picture was taken of a group of friends on a picnic at a farm.
In that sepia image, the people are teenagers, posing in a pyramid formation. You can see from their facial expressions that they are thoroughly enjoying themselves and trying hard to keep their balance while a fit of giggles overcomes them.
As a group of friends view this photograph sent on WhatsApp, there is wonder and disbelief. First and foremost, the person who forwarded the image is congratulated on her retrieval of this picture and for unearthing it from her archives. Those who featured in this image years ago when they were in their teens resort to reminiscing while those who are not in the picture want to know where, when, how and why.
The chatter continues until everyone is given a detailed explanation and their curiosity satisfied. Some might wonder why they aren’t there, and then realise that they weren’t in that particular group then. Some faces are unfamiliar and so each one has to be identified. That’s because there are younger sisters, too, in the picture.
The ones who formed the base of the pyramid include yours truly who was never known for her suppleness of body even in those days. The more athletic ones are perched precariously on shoulders and laughing as they do the delicate balancing act. It’s hard keeping still while you are giggling and the integrity of the formation is threatened by the bodies heaving with laughter.
It is hard to imagine we were so young and carefree once. But, even as we take a second look at our older selves, we realise that the infectious fun-seeking spirit is still alive and well. We have met as a group several times since then and, each time, we have behaved as childishly as days of yore. There has been uncontrollable laughter with the complete ease of friends who cannot resist dredging up memories of silly, spontaneous moments. The butt of the joke takes it in her stride, knowing that her foibles are an endearing part of her nature.
On one such get-together in the UK some years ago, we found ourselves slipping into the past once again, recalling incidents in which someone or the other didn’t come off very well. In the midst of this nostalgic trip, one of us suddenly remembered that a daughter of one of the group was present and the salacious details of some adventures needed to be edited.
However, the young one must have felt even more uncomfortable than us on hearing details of a giddy parent. So, she excused herself from the group and retired to bed.
We were in picturesque Cornwall at that time, drinking in the stunning scenery on a cool summer evening. Our conversation peeled back the years and once again we felt as young and carefree as the people in that picture.
I wonder if the daughter who was listening to us talk felt the same way we did when our parents told us anecdotes from their childhood as we looked at them disbelievingly, trying to imagine them as young as we were then, and failing miserably.
I think having friends from way back with whom you can just be yourself is an invaluable gift. The shared memories bind us together as a common history makes for a rich present and bright future.
I know that many others have envied the camaraderie and closeness we share and wish that they had maintained and nurtured friendships. To them I say it’s never too late to go back in time and bring it to the future.
