My best friend from childhood moved to Maryland over 30 years ago. We stayed in touch in visited when our children were small. But then her parents moved down there to be close to here, and we lost touch after a while.

When I got sick 4 years ago, I decided it was time to touch bases with all the important people in my life, so I called her. We've been talking a couple of times a year since. On my first birthday after radiation, she sent me roses in celebration of 50 years of friendship. It doesn't get much better than that.

I'm also still very close to my college roommate.