Friends From Long Ago and Far Away

Meet Barbara Filleau, Mary, and Pat Layton (L-R): lake residents, neighbors, and friends for over 6 decades. These ladies recently sat down with me to share a little glimpse into the story of their enduring friendship, which actually began 500 miles from the shores of Smith Mountain Lake - on the much saltier shores of eastern New Jersey.  

Barbara and Mary knew of each other as they attended the same elementary school growing up. But it wasn't until after Mary's family left the area for a few years, returning when she was in high school, that the two became thick as thieves. From dressing like twins, to road-tripping vacations - from attending the World Fair in 1965, to seeing the Beatles perform at Shea Stadium. The pair amassed boatloads of memories together during their mid-late teen years - including many-a-weekend spent up at Asbury Park during the height of The Stone Pony's reign.

By the time they were in their 30s, Pat had been brought into the friend group through marrying the brother of Mary's husband. The chums smile and laugh as they reminisce about epic backyard BBQs that would last for days, pool parties, girls' deep woods camping trips, and memorable Halloween shindigs... All three were also avid motorcycle riders - something they and their spouses enjoyed together. Over the years, children were added to the mix and life continued on, eventually drawing them away from the Jersey Shore. Still, they remained in touch through letters, visits, and phone calls.

In the mid-1980s, sisters-in-law Mary and Pat discovered the beautiful haven that is SML. They jointly purchase 11 acres in North Shore with plans to retire here eventually. Mary and her husband and daughter migrated down to the family land first - spending many of their working years here in Moneta as they built their home. Pat and her husband ended up waiting for retirement to fly south, as originally planned. They took a year off to travel and then settled onto the forested acreage right behind Mary. Meanwhile, on a trip to visit her longtime friends, the lake cast its spell over Barbara… She and her husband ended up signing a rental lease on the spot. 

In 2009, while Barbara was on the hunt for land to build, Mary just happened to be selling off a section of their property originally intended for her mother (who decided she'd rather not leave Jersey after all). It was serendipity! Could friends who were once neighbors 50 years prior, actually be neighbors again? The answer turned out to be a resounding YES!

 These days you'll find this trio-with-adjoining-addresses celebrating holidays together, swapping plants from their gardens, planning Scrabble/card/Domino get-togethers, and dressing up for the occasional tea party. 

What a gift it is to be in your golden years surrounded by golden friendships. ♥

"Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold." - Joseph Parry