It's hard to imagine that I and my best friend have known each other for 40+ years. Since our days military school in Lebanon, Tenn.( the home Cracker Barrel restauraunts). As a matter of fact, thier corporate office is our old dorm.

 

I still try and frequent "the Barrel" on a regular basis. I used eat at the very first one upon returning to school after vacations when Dan Evans, the founder and ex-CEO was pumping gas at the original Country Store.

 

If there is any advice I pass on to my daughter, it is to have a good friend for as long as you can remember.

 

I think one of the many reasons that we were such good friemds, was we were both "mamas boys" coming from a household with a strong and smart mothers. We would never admit it, especialy at a military school full of boys.

 

Although, both of our mom's are dead, they are not gone.  His mom treated me like his brother and my mom treated

him the same. They both saw the friendship as huge benefit for thier sons. It still lives on 40+ years later. I guess they were even smarter than we thought.

 

Even though our lifes have each taken unexpected turns, we have managed to all ways remain intouch and supportive.

 

I bet everyone wished they  had a friend like that. We have a fridge magnet that says, " It takes a long time, to grow an old friend",  with a picture of a growing plant. I guess,  I have a whole garden.