There are similarities between old friends and old couples.
Certain key phrases just make the two of you laugh simultaneously. Forks out the bits of food from the other person's plate without even looking at him or her. People would always ask about this other person when he or she is not with you.
My good friend from teens came traveling with me in Mysore. We did this epic trip together from India to Pakistan. Tears, sweats, and laughter. So, we vowed to do it again many years later. At first, we both tried to recall what it was like when we had that trip together and the fun we used to have. But somehow we are not that 26-year-old chicks anymore. (well, we are older chicks now.)One afternoon, she decided to sit down and have a talk. Like all long term relationship, nothing is what it is seen. It is not that thing you do, it is how you did it with content, disrespect, or mindlessness. It seems to be so harmlessly minor but it goes as deep as a feud. This is how you have treated me and you have always acted so that hurts me so is usually how the beginning sentence sounds like...
"All I am asking you is to give me some respect." She said at the end.
"I respect you and I don't feel I have disrespected you." I replied.
She has this look on her face saying the voiceless phrase "I know you wouldn't understand it..."
Discouraged. But sorry is offered and accepted. But the line has been drawn. A cold treaty. The old inmate grammar we used to speak to each other has become a foreign language. We carry life carefully as those on the Golan Height. But we are far from the estranged residents on that piece of no man's land. We still do love each other dearly. (Just can't tolerate each for most of the time.) The one good difference between old couples and old friends is that separation doesn't mean neglect nor goodbye. Simply, leaving room for each to breathe and then perhaps when we are in better shape of ourselves, we can start to appreciate each other again. Not the school yard silly puffy face me (yes, I was chubby) nor the awkwardly shy looking her. Just the way we are. Something like Now.
