I once read of this important distinction:
Some people are friends of the road.
Other people are friends of the heart.
Holly and I have been friends since 1995 and haven't seen each other regularly since 1996. But our friendship is one of the heart, and even if we haven't seen each other in years, we pick up like our last conversation was yesterday.
We had the added treat of visiting Holly and Charles in their new home in northern Illinois. They spoiled us with a Spanish menu . . . and now we simply must to go to Spain!