by Janet H. Brown

I've been watching my daughter, who has just recently had her 14th birthday, develop new friendships. The friendships our children make are so important to their growth. They learn to form bonds among themselves that require time.

As adults we understand this as it takes time to develop a true friendship. I have a very dear friend whom I have known for forty years of my life. My friend has a very simple name of only four letters. Jane is her name. The name may be simple to spell and say, but as Jane would say "Oh, Boy!" she is more than just a name.

When you meet Jane, she will always be pleasant, and if you strike her as an interesting person watch out. She will be able to hold your interest and you will have such a delightful conversation. If she doesn't like you, that's O.K. too, because she wouldn't let you know. She is a very wise woman indeed.

I met Jane when I was a child and I had already developed a friendship with her daughter (she and I are still good friends after forty-plus years). Jane helped me learn my phonics. She was my teacher. She understood when I cried when my mother was so ill. She was my lifeline. She was at my wedding. She smiled. She was at the Christening of my two children and at important events of their lives and laughed with us. She hugged and told me all would be well when my father and brother died, that I needed to grieve in my own time.

I have struck gold. Jane is and will always be part of my family. I have considered her my second mother. Now, this is a wonderful friendship to have for many more years to come.