topic Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus in Among Friends

Friends for Seven Decades Plus

golding76 — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 03:10:25 GMT

Unlike some famous folks on opposite sides of the political spectrum, my dear friend of seven decades and I were able to meet for lunch today with no one taking our photo and then firing off nasty tweets about us. No one chastised us for having fun, laughing, chatting and enjoying one another's company. Our political views differ, but we spoke not a word about such matters. Rather, we spoke of our loved ones and our lives. And yes, we spoke of the past, having grown up together in the same small town.

We hadn't seen one another in six years. She now lives in Florida. The last time she came north, she was visiting a location too far away for us to meet up. Whenever I see her, we simply pick up where we left off. What a wonderful feeling.

As older women, we now worry when we say goodbye to one another. I am so happy to be her friend and have her in my life.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

Foxxee — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 03:15:54 GMT

Consider yourself fortunate. I know some friends and married couples who have broken up and got divorced because of political differences.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

rms1954 — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 03:16:51 GMT

Are you famous? I don't get the connection with that comment.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

kitcat51 — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 03:19:24 GMT

I think that's the way most people live..we have different opinions but we show respect & get along.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

golding76 — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 03:26:32 GMT

lmtep,

Something happened when former President and Mrs. George W. Bush and Ellen DeGeneres sat next to one another at a recent baseball game. I won't go into it more because the thread might be poofed. I don't want trouble.

It seems President Bush and Ellen are good friends.

Adding this: There was a reason that in years past, people sought to follow the adage that in polite company, one does not discuss sex, religion or politics.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

proudlyfromNJ — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 03:34:03 GMT

Heck my husbands whole family and our whole town and friends in it are totally opposite of us politically. We all get along great. We don’t discuss politics with the family. We care about each other too much to make hard feelings over that. As for the townspeople, eh,what are you going to do?

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

spiderw — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 04:23:24 GMT

Growing up I always heard my parents say not to discuss religion or politics since they can cause bad feelings and arguments. That stayed with me and I do just that. My sister and I are the same and my brother is the opposite. We avoid politics because we do not want to create a falling out. Our respect and love for each other means too much.

I still see friends from grammar school, over sixty years of friendships. When we go out we have fun and laughter and all conversation. No phones, no arguments, just sharing history and so many memories. We know each others politics and religions and they will never come between our relationships. It isn't always easy but we have so much to talk about, it has always been like that and our times together uplifting.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

haddon9 — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 06:06:00 GMT

How wonderful that you had a great time with your old friend! I don't understand why politics should have gotten in the way if you happen to have differing opinions. It's unfortunate if it does for some. There are people in my life who have different views from me so when we get together we just don't ever talk about it. There is so much more to life to share & enjoy!

I did see the segment on the news regarding the former president and Ellen. I'm not going to compare myself to them because even though they are the opposite politically neither of them are like me.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

CalminHeart — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 09:53:58 GMT

@Foxxee wrote:
Consider yourself fortunate. I know some friends and married couples who have broken up and got divorced because of political differences.

I'm retired but very active. I went out with a man a few months ago and had a great time...until after dinner when he started talking politics. I could have handled the differences in our political views, even though they were pretty significant, but his tone of voice and the words he used concerned me - a red flag. I nicely suggested we not talk politics but he didn't stop. When he called again, I declined to go out and explained that our views are way too different and it's a matter of ethics and moral character to me. He called me a name which only proved I was correct.

I have a number of female and male friends who have different political views. It does not interfere at all in our friendships. We just don't talk politics.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

PamfromCT — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 13:42:42 GMT

I completely agree that politics should never be brought up in social situations. Even when all share the same views, it’s good to relax and take a break.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

Witchy Woman — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 14:05:04 GMT

@CalminHeart

I think you did the right thing.

I was very disappointed to hear a friend of mine talk terribly about a former president. It was clear his comments were racially motivated. Told him we could NOT talk politics.

After that, I decided he wasn't the man I thought he was. We are still friends, but have very limited contact and NEVER talk politics.

Even my own sister makes me crazy, so we don't say a word about politics. Sadly, I don't know where her views come from. They are very ugly at their core and....it makes me sad.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

alicedee — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 14:52:03 GMT

Timely thread...this past week I spent the day with a group of schoolmates....we've been friends for almost 60 years. Many different political and religious viewpoints....which we didn't need to discuss. There were plenty of other topics to share, and SO many laughs. I love those ladies, and I know they love me, too.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

Peaches McPhee — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 15:03:08 GMT

You are so lucky. My 85 year old Mother-in-law is still friends with the little girl she sat next to in the 1st grade. Both still doing well. I have no idea of any differences in their politics, though.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

chrystaltree — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 16:11:55 GMT

I can't even imagine such a long friendship, you are both very fortunate. And very wise to keep politics and other differences out of your friendship. It's probably why you have been friends for such a long time.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

golding76 — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 23:24:33 GMT

This discussion prompts me to write the following:

I chuckle as I recount what happened last week, but it just goes to show you that when it comes to politics, leave your best friends and relatives out of it, if you can.

A week ago, a woman running for the Board of Supervisors appeared at my front door. I remember her from her days as PTA president at the local elementary school. I've read about her steady climb in the local political community, and she is highly respected. As she knew from records, I'm usually a member of her squad.

Of course we soon started talking about what a great divide there is between so many people these days. I said to her that if I eliminated from my life those on the other squad, I would have to say goodbye to my favorite relatives, friends and members of my church. That just wasn't going to happen.

With a grin, she then related this: "My parents are 'members of the other squad.' They live in New Jersey and vote for 'that squad.' And here I am..."

When I went back into my house, I had to laugh at the situation. (From what I could gather, there is no animosity between her and parents, I am happy to report.) A daughter is a successful politician on the opposite side of the political beliefs of this family. Reminds me of Alex in "Family Ties." Remember how he differed from his family's politics?

Life loves to play little jokes on us.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

suzyQ3 — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 00:51:13 GMT

@golding76 wrote:
This discussion prompts me to write the following:

I chuckle as I recount what happened last week, but it just goes to show you that when it comes to politics, leave your best friends and relatives out of it, if you can.

A week ago, a woman running for the Board of Supervisors appeared at my front door. I remember her from her days as PTA president at the local elementary school. I've read about her steady climb in the local political community, and she is highly respected. As she knew from records, I'm usually a member of her squad.

Of course we soon started talking about what a great divide there is between so many people these days. I said to her that if I eliminated from my life those on the other squad, I would have to say goodbye to my favorite relatives, friends and members of my church. That just wasn't going to happen.

With a grin, she then related this: "My parents are 'members of the other squad.' They live in New Jersey and vote for 'that squad.' And here I am..."

When I went back into my house, I had to laugh at the situation. (From what I could gather, there is no animosity between her and parents, I am happy to report.) A daughter is a successful politican on the opposite side of the political beliefs of this family. Reminds me of Alex in "Family Ties." Remember how he differed from his family's politics?

Life loves to play little jokes on us.

I admire your spirit, @golding76, even if I can match it only sometimes. :-)

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

blackhole99 — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 22:55:21 GMT

My family and friends never discuss politics or religion, if we did we would never get together.

Re: Friends for Seven Decades Plus

GCR18 — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 04:14:40 GMT

Long friendships are the best. I have two friends from 10th grade that I still connect with. One I email with and the other I see a couple times a year. We can talk about stupid things we did in our 20's and laugh till it hurts.

We were brought up not to talk about.politics and I don't. I have a different friend who likes to and she tried to once. I knew it wouldn't end well, so I changed the subject.