Angie and Dennis Chambers and Dolores and Jack Kearney celebrate 30 years of friendship. (Photo by Dolores Kearney)
Dolores Kearney
“FriendsVersary.” You won’t find that word in the dictionary. But it is definitely a word to add to your vocabulary.
Sometimes conversations between pickleball games yield some wonderful results. During a casual conversation about weekend plans, a friend mentioned that she and her husband were going to dinner to celebrate their “FriendsVersary” with their long-time Robson Ranch friends. They met nine years ago while sitting at the same table at pickleball orientation and just immediately hit it off. Since then, they have been on many adventures together, shared many good times and been there for each other through some rough times. They decided they needed to celebrate their friendship. So “FriendsVersary” was invented!
After some thought on my part, I realized that Jack and I met Angie and Dennis Chambers 30 years ago in August 1996 when we moved to Dallas. We quickly bonded over our New York childhoods, children in band, high school football, and our church community. For three decades we’ve: sampled more restaurants than any responsible adult should admit, “tasted” wine like we were conducting scientific research, traveled as if the world needed our commentary, cheered at high school football games like we were auditioning for ESPN, and hosted pool parties that probably should’ve come with a waiver.
We’ve shared laughter, stories, inside jokes, and at least a few moments that can never be repeated outside this group. After 30 years, we’re less like two couples and more like one slightly chaotic, extremely fun four person unit.
The next time I saw my pickleball friend, I shared with her that we have been friends with Angie and Dennis for 30 years and asked if we could “steal” her brilliant FriendsVersary idea. She immediately granted permission. In August, Angie, Dennis, Jack and I celebrated 30 years of friendship at Classic Café in Roanoke starting with a champagne toast!
So, this is an invitation to all Robson Ranchers to join the “FriendsVersary” movement and celebrate friendship, whether one year, ten, or more. Long live everyone’s legendary friendships!