23 Heartwarming Photos That Prove Age Is No Barrier To Friendship

“We met in Casablanca, Morocco. I was a happily married, retired, independent, spirited world traveler. She a college student on a school trip. We met for breakfast the next morning and started rooming together and developed an amazing friendship based on many commonalities of spirit, interests and shared experiences.

"I attended her investiture as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in California. Now she is a first lieutenant and is engaged. We bought a future heirloom handmade lace wedding veil in Bruges and she honored me by asking me to be matron of honor at her wedding! She brings joy and sparkle to my life and I treasure our friendship for the amazing serendipitous miracle that it is.” -- Mary Kay

“Nancy has been a family friend since I was a child and I had a very special bond with her growing up. Our relationship changed into more of a personal friendship than a family friendship in the last two years as we started having weekly phone conversations. Part of the reason we are still so close is because we can understand and respect each other's frustrations or heartaches. We also do our best to use our unique perspective of the world to help each other. She teaches me with her years of experience and I teach her with my understanding of current realities and the struggles of young adults. She has a huge impact on my life and such a special place in my heart.” -- Ashley

“Ella passed away two years ago in May, but for four years prior to that, she was like a second mother, my best friend, confidante, and the keeper of my secrets. Ella moved in to the Assisted Living Community where I was director when she was 99. That year, I invited her to spend Thanksgiving with my family. From that moment on, she spent every holiday with us. When she fell and broke her hip in March of 2014, she asked if I would give the eulogy at her funeral. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of her. I have many friends, but none has taught me more, or touched my life in the way that Ella did. She was as sharp and funny as she was the day I met her right up to the very end of her life.” -- Bonnie

“We met on the island of Kauai where we both worked in the same field. We developed a sister-friend relationship immediately, agreeing to help each other and blend our jobs for maximum effect. I can't tell you how many fun times we have had despite our age difference. Even though she is still on Kauai and I am back in California, we remain the best of friends. Sometimes, when we haven't spoken by phone in months, it's still as if it were yesterday.” -- Claire

“Mike was group leader at work until he retired. We weren’t necessarily friends at work but there was mutual respect and we got a kick out of each other. At some point after he retired we began letter writing and have kept that up ever since. In the last few years I've also visited him a few times a year, but our friendship is mostly via monthly handwritten letters.

"We value the differences of our experiences. He's a deep thinker and has had a broad range of life experience, so he gives thoughtful, honest input. So do I, even though I don't have as much life experience!” -- Deborah

“I met Jerry when my graduate school mentor suggested that I was the one to ‘get his story.’ For the first two and half years of our friendship, Jerry and I would have coffee and cake and I would fix any computer problems he was experiencing.

"Over the course of the next six years, my relationship with Jerry grew exponentially. He began referring to me as his adopted grandson. People would inquire about the nature of our relationship and Jerry wanted a shorthand way for people to understand our bond.

"Our friendship lasted because we share the experience of losing siblings at an early age. We also allowed each other to be ourselves. Lastly, there was a mutual curiosity about each other's lives and the wisdom we'd each amassed. Jerry died on January 1, 2016.” -- Jason

“She is young enough to be my daughter, and yet [she's] one of my dearest friends. Marthe is the daughter of another dear friend, but she and I have charted our own relationship. Like so many other women of my age, I have children and grandchildren living far away. Something about having Marthe in my life helps fill the hole in my heart their distance leaves.

"She keeps me current in big ways and small. I respect her opinions on the big stuff, like when she cut to the chase in a discussion of gay marriage with the observation that 'love trumps all.' She's my go-to pal on small things too. She reassures me that I am not too old to wear purple nail polish!” -- Melissa

"Nearly four years ago, I was the recipient of an award at my alma mater. Another guest asked me to take a photo of her and her mentor. She told me I absolutely had to meet Ed, a professor emeritus. It turns out that he had been pivotal in establishing the master's program from which I had earned my degree -- and on which I've built my career and a nonprofit dedicated to this work. Soon after, Ed and I met for coffee and hit it off. Ed and I have become fast friends, sharing laughter, tears, celebrations, defeats, as well as brainstorming and conspiring about how to keep intergenerational issues at the forefront of people’s consciousness. We truly hold a soft spot in our hearts for one another. Our lives -- professionally and personally -- are so much richer because of our intergenerational friendship!" -- Andrea

“MaryAnn is my high school classmate’s mother. MaryAnn taught me to knit and then we had regular knitting Thursdays. I have two children who also enjoy going to MaryAnn’s house to eat popcorn, watch a video and do their homework while we knitted and talked on Thursdays. We are both super organized, good communicators, like to cook, and have similar thoughts on raising children. She always remembers my wedding date and birthday. She’s a great friend.” -- Annette

“We met in the mid 70s, while working together. Although we didn't remain in consistent contact, after a few years we ended up reconnecting via Facebook. We were able to reconnect and we picked right up with work stories and family news.

"Our differences seem to have never impacted our ability to share and laugh and rejoice together in life and in friendship!” -- Diane

"Neither one of us could have fathomed that our best friend and soul sister would inhabit the body of people who seemed to be polar opposites. But, thankfully, destiny and a humorous God made it so. Eleven years later, we are inseparable despite those pesky thousands of miles between us.

"Thank God that we didn’t let the whole teenager and middle-aged thing get in the way of the best friendship ever because, frankly, we've lasted this long because the things we have in common far outweigh the differences.” -- Dinah

“We have shared many emotions together and the ups and downs, mostly ups. I believe our friendship grows in time because we can have fallouts and grow stronger. We make time for each other and trust each other. We are different but alike.” -- Dolby

"We are an intergenerational couple. There are many more couples like us than I realized, many in very long-term relationships. What keeps us together besides love is being blind to age.” -- Joe

“We became friends in late 2006 when we were in similar situations. My mother had just succumbed to lung cancer and George’s wife of nearly 60 years had passed. George grew up in the Massachusetts town where I now live. He sent me an email asking about an oral history project I was working on relating to it. He offered to share his memories. I quickly discovered that George is a lively and sweet person with an ever-sharp mind and fast wit. We leaned on and confided in each other. He visits me once a year or so, and we chat a few times a week online. He is part of my family.” -- Lauren

“I have known my Ruth for most of my adult life and we have become the best of friends. We have shared countless special times over the years, whether at church, dinner or playing cards, and many more quiet times in prayer or conversation. People who see us out arm in arm often assume she is my mother. We joke that we have only adopted one another! She has been my confidante, supporting me through thick and thin throughout the years, and her wisdom and strong faith have sustained me. She often marvels that she is included in gatherings with my younger friends, yet the age difference is no issue at all because she has remained young at heart.” -- Linda

“I enrolled in one of Kathie's university courses and loved her style of teaching. I went on to take several more classes with her. When graduation rolled around, Kathie offered me an opportunity to be her graduate teaching assistant. Kathie's work experience prior to teaching inspired my career path.

“We are very much alike despite the age difference. I’ve always been described as having an older soul. We both support each other in our mild, yet healthy obsessions with our favorite musicians. Kathie loves Jimmy Buffett, while I love Elton John. It is important to have a strong, assertive, conscientious and compassionate person you can relate to in life. We are that person for each other and we believe that is a big factor in why our friendship has lasted so long.” -- Meghan

“Judy and I met nearly six years ago as coworkers who turned into very good friends. While there are 40 years between us, our friendship has endured as a result of constant communication, letters, and occasional phone call pick-me-ups.” -- Michael

“We met at a church about four years ago. We laugh. We eat. We go to thrift shops and antique stores. She has grandkids. I have two young adult daughters. We laugh because both of our husbands are engineers ... you know how engineers are.” -- Roslyn

“I'd always seen Aquilla around Denver. I attended her church for a season and to be honest, she fascinated me with her dark hue and silver mane … I looked at her and saw myself in 30 years. I was in awe of her queenly stature and the fact that she was so well loved, but in 2009, she took an interest in me. She nominated me for an Excelsior 'Triumphant Woman' award because of the obstacles I had overcome as an incest survivor. Not only did I receive the award, but I gained a new girlfriend… and that's exactly what she is. We talk about life, men, health, our challenges and goals. Our conversations make me realize that age does not diminish any of our desires.” -- Sheryl

“We met 15 years ago at work. Angie was my new teaching partner. The minute we met, I knew she was meant to be in my life forever. I was there when Angie met her husband. I was her Maid of Honor in their wedding. I experienced all aspects of her pregnancy, and I am now a grandmother figure to her daughter. Even though I could be a mother figure because I never had children and Angie didn't have an involved mother, we are so much more than that. We are simply best friends who share the same interests and view life the same way.” -- Jeaninne

“Peggy and I grew close seven years ago when a promotion caused us to spend time working on projects together. Although there are almost 30 years between us, our connection comes from our commonalities. We are both full-time working mothers who have a strong love for our children and families. Peggy gives great advice when it comes to marriage, losing a loved one and parenting. My outgoing and somewhat impulsive behavior allows her to be more free spirited and relaxed.” -- Te’Kima

“I met Norman when my family and I moved to Montclair, New Jersey a little over six years ago. He lives two doors down from me and it soon became very apparent that Norm was the heart and soul of our block. Not only is he a grandpa to the little kids on the street, but he is a wonderful friend to me, his next door neighbor Cathlyn, and all of the other 40- and 50-something neighbors who live around him. Many Fridays throughout the year our block has a 5 p.m. 'Happy Hour.' Norm is always the first one there, ready to share some red wine with his neighbors. As a writer, I have so appreciated Norm, as he's been one of my biggest cheerleaders. Whenever he spots one of my articles, he sends it out to others on the block. We all love Norm and -- being young at heart -- he is far from a typical 80-something man. He's a real treasure that my entire block cherishes.” -- Shelley

“My 'grandmother,' Lavonne Totten, taught with my mother for over 30 years. People literally thought she was my mom's mother, which made her so mad since they were not that far apart in age. They were best friends. Somewhere along the way she just became my 'grandmother' because of her friendship with my mother. Through college, my career, and everything in between she has been one of my closest friends. I have spent many nights at her home. Cried many tears on her shoulder or on the phone. She is full of faith and wisdom. She has helped me move, was part of my wedding as a stand-in grandparent, and is basically a great-grandmother to my adopted son. She remains active in our lives still. She is in her late 70s. I am 38. She became my rock when my own grandmother passed away. She has been my strength with my son's recent autism diagnosis. When she does not hear from me in a couple weeks she calls to do a 'welfare check.' She saw me through some really dark days and keeps me in her prayers. She truly is an amazing blessing in my life.” -- Tonya