In 1994 Bossy and her husband and son moved from the city to a small house in a smaller neighborhood. Bossy’s son was four-years-old, and he had to abandon his preschool pals in the city—but he was excited to have a yard, so it all evened out.
And for the first few months Bossy’s son enjoyed himself in that yard, alone.
He improved his swing:
And he won an award for World’s Tallest Zinnias:
Let’s face it—Bossy’s son enjoyed a good backyard luau like the next guy, but he was lonely for a friend:
So imagine how excited Bossy’s son was to discover that only seventy-two steps from his front door lived another four-year-old boy—and that boy invited Bossy’s son over to play.
And that first day they played for hours. They played board games and they played catch and they played cards—and when the play date was over and Bossy’s son was walking toward home, his new friend looked at his mom and said, “She was really nice!”
But it wasn’t long before his new best friend figured out Bossy’s son was in fact a boy—and they became inseparable.
They played in winter:
They played in summer:
They played in more summers:
And even more summers:
And before Bossy knew it, this son of hers and his friend who also called her mom were sprouting into young men:
Every spring Bossy and her husband would take her son and his friend out to dinner to celebrate another triumphant year:
And every fall Bossy would stand out front to capture the first day of school as the two chuckleheads embarked on a new year full of promise:
Bossy’s son and his friend were perfectly suited because they both possessed a unique combination of smarts and cool, of humor and ambition.
And both were similarly rewarded for their hard work and likeability:
Alas, Bossy’s son and her other son have very different areas of interest, and the two friends selected different colleges. So the other night Bossy watched as the two friends stood at the shared intersection that has framed their boyhood and said their goodbyes:
But Bossy has faith in the foundation of this friendship, and she knows that no matter where the two are headed and what their futures hold, they will be there to cheer each other on and poke incessant fun as needed.
Latte Mommy says
August 30, 2008 at 11:43 amOh, my heart just broke a little bit. 🙁
Natalie says
August 30, 2008 at 11:47 amI would like to marry into your family.
I will submit a resume if required.
Miz Booshay says
August 30, 2008 at 11:48 amCrying here!
Says a lot about them to remain friends thru the years.
They will always be friends and that is so wonderful.
The hugging picture really got me.
Shayera says
August 30, 2008 at 11:55 amBossy, it is far too early in the morning to be this emotionally touched.
smalltown mom says
August 30, 2008 at 12:08 pmA big old Awwwwwwww here.
amy says
August 30, 2008 at 12:09 pmdude. bossy made doobleh-vay cry.
so fricking sweet. xo
Chesapeake Bay Woman says
August 30, 2008 at 12:23 pmThis might be the first time Bossy has made me cry.
Lisa says
August 30, 2008 at 12:23 pmThat was way too sweet. I hope you’re doing okay, now that your nest is a little MORE emptier (is that a word?). Sigh.
Jeri says
August 30, 2008 at 12:24 pmThat was more than a little bit sweet. I’m not ashamed to wipe that tear from my eye.
Have the T-shirt says
August 30, 2008 at 12:29 pmAwww, that was just priceless!
Having just experienced those same goodbyes with my son and his friends, I can honestly say I can ‘feel it’.
You are such a great mom. Both your sons are so lucky!
Cindy Z says
August 30, 2008 at 12:30 pmI really dislike change! Best friends, who can live without one!
Grandma J says
August 30, 2008 at 12:36 pmWhy am I crying, for God’s sake!
I know, I didn’t get my good-bye hug.
Twenty Four At Heart says
August 30, 2008 at 12:45 pmNo fair – stop it. The college thing hits way too close to home and I can do quite enough crying on my own about it without any help from Bossy! My daughter left LAST year and I’m still traumatized. (She’s getting ready to leave again after spending her summer in Cambridge studying … never came home this summer – sniff! sniff!) My SON has one more year till he leaves too. And he’s had the same 2 best friends since he was TWO. (sob!!) I can’t take it! Being a mom is so hard sometimes!
vuboq says
August 30, 2008 at 12:46 pmbossy has the best sons ever! (well, after my mom, of course).
Nancy says
August 30, 2008 at 12:49 pm::: sniff sniff :::
Coupla cool sons ya got there girl.
Gayle says
August 30, 2008 at 12:56 pmThis post is so sweet. I’m with Miz Booshay. The hugging picture made my eyes well up with tears.
Dara says
August 30, 2008 at 1:01 pmvery sweet. such cuties, too!!
Walking With Scissors says
August 30, 2008 at 1:02 pmThat made me sad! It’s like in the Wonder Years when Winnie moved to a new neighborhood and Kevin was so sad that he rode his bike all the way across town to see her.
Here’s to your son and your other son! May they always have each other’s backs.
Linda260 says
August 30, 2008 at 1:03 pmbeautiful, touching – sigh…
You are an artist with words, my dear!
annie says
August 30, 2008 at 1:06 pmTo have one life long friend such as that is the best thing in the world.
Debbie says
August 30, 2008 at 1:11 pmPerfect photograph at the end of a wonderful story. Our children should all be so lucky to have grown up living so close to a good friend.
Kristin says
August 30, 2008 at 1:17 pmWell, that was a tear jerker. I just thought I’d read one more blog post real quick before I left for the afternoon. Now I need to fix my makeup!
Kristin says
August 30, 2008 at 1:19 pmWell, that was a tear jerker. I just thought I’d read one more blog post real quick before I left for the afternoon. Now I need to fix my makeup!
Mrs. B. says
August 30, 2008 at 1:22 pmAwwww! As an Army brat that moved all over hell and tarnation, I hope my kids will always be friends with the kids in our neighborhood!
Tammy says
August 30, 2008 at 1:23 pmI heart Bossy. Can’t wait to hear more about the boys at college!
teri says
August 30, 2008 at 1:33 pm*sniff, sniff*. Well, that brought some tears to the eyes.
I hope they are friends for life. They are hard to come by.
AJMick says
August 30, 2008 at 1:36 pmAwww… this reminds me of my brother and his best friend. Not quite the same story but they’ve been friends forever and it continues on now that they’re 40. His friend is my “other-brother” and we’ve been through so many ups and downs, as life will bring you, the longer you’re on this planet. They make an effort to see each other as often as they can even though they live about 3 hours apart and are busy w/their own families… the spare room in my brother’s house is joking called Mike’s room.
Funny thing… I have something similar with a girl I’ve known since we were 4. We lost touch for awhile going through that whole awkward middle/high school bitchy girl phase but luckily we found each other again and we talk (via email and text) practically every day.
Dear old friends are so very awesome. Bossy’s son is a lucky man, indeed, and so is Bossy’s other son.
Glass Dragonfly says
August 30, 2008 at 1:42 pmBeautiful. For reasons that I will not share here, I am currently a sobby mess. Hugs.
jessie says
August 30, 2008 at 1:45 pmso sweet! How far away from NY will your other son be? Might they be able to visit each other once in a while at school?
Victoria says
August 30, 2008 at 1:50 pmAm also now a sobby mess.
Meg says
August 30, 2008 at 2:00 pmWould someone please pass me a Kleenex?
Martin says
August 30, 2008 at 2:10 pmThat was a cool post. Remember, If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.
patty says
August 30, 2008 at 2:21 pmWhy did you think to take a picture of the boys from the back? Only you, Dear Bossy would have thought that an important angle. I have had a girlfriend since I was 2. I was 47 on Tuesday. Your son will never know the blessing he was given in that friend until he is older. PLEASE, make sure he always keeps in touch. And never worry who called who last, just make the call to say, Hey, What’s up? I think I’ll make that call now….
corrie says
August 30, 2008 at 2:27 pmI am crying! What a beautiful retrospective showing these boys grow into hairy men!
My son is ten and he too has a long-time friend since daycare days. I truly hope they too will enjoy growing up together as your sons have done.
Thanks for a “life is good” cry~
Scout's Honor says
August 30, 2008 at 2:30 pmohhh, heart breaking here. So poignant. My 12 year old as a close friend like that. They have six more years and still I sit her sniffling.
Becca says
August 30, 2008 at 2:40 pmBossy made Becca cry and feel reminiscent for her old friends.
Alice says
August 30, 2008 at 2:42 pmOoooooohh… =(
Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy says
August 30, 2008 at 2:53 pmMy PMS wasn’t ready for this. Great post and great tribute to their friendship.
Moi says
August 30, 2008 at 3:03 pmCould Bossy’s sons be any cuter?
noelia says
August 30, 2008 at 3:21 pmI’m crying too!!!
Mrs. G. says
August 30, 2008 at 3:43 pmDamn it to hell, Bossy, stop with these posts. I’m not kidding…I can’t bear to cry over ANY MORE about your son’s departure. And now you’re bringing in your other son? Stop. I’m trying to get my own kid off to college. THUD! Did you hear that? That’s me picking my breaking heart up off the laptop. Bossy, stop.
ris says
August 30, 2008 at 3:43 pmDoes Bossy live in Mayberry? This story is so sweet!
country mouse says
August 30, 2008 at 4:24 pmtotally made me cry. totally. *sniff*
Hallie says
August 30, 2008 at 4:25 pmFriends rule this world. How awesome!!!
Come join my Campaign!!
Hallie
http://wonderfulworldofweiners.blogspot.com/
Mama Bear says
August 30, 2008 at 5:05 pmAwwww!
This so reminds me of my oldest cub and her BFF. In high school, teachers tell me, they would finish each other’s sentences. They too went to college in different directions. One now lives near DC while the other is in Pittsburgh. Only a 4 hour drive, they tell me. Still best friends. Always.
Laura says
August 30, 2008 at 5:20 pmAwww, great story, sniff sniff. You must be such a proud mom!
Mary Anne says
August 30, 2008 at 5:24 pmUgh! I just put my makeup on and now I’ve cried it off! What a wonderful post and how sweet that they have been close for so long. I’ve had my best friend for 27 years, old friends are the best friends. What a great post…..now I am going to go lecture my children about getting any bigger. 🙂
Little Miss Sunshine State says
August 30, 2008 at 5:27 pmMy daughter and her best friend in the world have known each other since before birth. Her Mom and I met when we were pregnant.
They have shared every best moment of their lives and they each had 2 houses to be in where everyone loved them.
They are going to college 1500 miles away from each other. If they don’t get to talk for a couple of weeks, the conversation picks up exactly where they left off.
Isn’t a friend like that a great gift in life?
robyn says
August 30, 2008 at 5:45 pmyeah, I cried.
Mr Farty says
August 30, 2008 at 6:39 pmBossy has the greatest sons.
The Know it All says
January 13, 2010 at 1:14 pmYou’re the best, Bossy….You caputured all those memories for your son and his friend to hold on to! Can you do this for my kids? Not always sure where my camera IS!!!
Cupcake Murphy says
June 2, 2010 at 10:03 pmI have a friend like that and I’ve often thought that our friendship is indeed one of the few solid foundations of my life entire.
JaneK says
October 24, 2010 at 1:05 amI can assure you that they will remain BFFs somewhere in their hearts. I still have one I have known since infancy. We don’t talk much, but when we do, it is like we never left…..although this post is 2 years old so you are probably getting an idea of it……
I hope my daughter finds a neighbor/friend that will be that to her…..