Long, long ago, at my summer camp, the Girl Scout song, “Make New Friends, But Keep the Old” was sung regularly at campfires. 

I thought of that old favorite the other night when out to dinner with a couple Peter and I met almost fifty years ago.  Our kids were in third and fifth grade with their kids, and we met for the first time at a book group for third-grade parents.

Over the years, we went to early movies and out to dinner with them countless times.  And among other memorable activities, we bicycled together in New Zealand.

I see them infrequently now, although we are always in touch by phone. 

Except for the empty fourth chair at the table, our dinner was as much fun as always.