Thinking of relationships, I am reminded of a Canadian/US controversy over fishing rights in the Gulf of St Lawrence shortly after the Iranian hostage affair in the US embassy when the Iranian government held the American diplomatic corps hostage. U.S. staff members, absent from the building at that time, took refuge in the Canadian embassy from which the Canadian ambassador finally managed to get them out of the country.

Our staff, protecting them, exemplified friendship between nations. Later with Canada still riding high in American eyes a disagreement arose pertaining to fishing in 'Canadian' waters. A friend quoted an old saying, "They were friends to the end. He asked for ten and that was the end".

Apparently economic considerations trump appreciation. How does one define friendship?

Just about now we should be having a reunion of the forestry class of 5 Tree 3 after 56 years since graduation from the University of Toronto. As we're not as young as we used to be a physical reunion does not appear to be in the books. However with winter over now is a time of reflection, a reminder of the close relationship we experienced during 4 years together as classmates. It hardly seems that long since we held a 50th reunion in Loretto in 2003, now six years ago.

At that time friends got together, traveling from all parts of North America, Alberta, Manitoba, Michigan, Colorado, etc. A long letter from Arne in Oslo helped to fill out the crowd. Since then we've attended a 50th wedding anniversary in Orillia, I stayed at a friend's home in the mile high city of Denver, Colorado and enjoyed the company of another from Michigan en route to his summer cottage in the Kawarthas. Occasionally we have enjoyed phone conversations with classmates in Michigan and in Peterborough. Unfortunately we have also heard of the death of our friend in Norway and in an e-mail last week, the loss of Jerry's wife in Parry Sound.

In a phone conversation with a classmate, we were reminded that we planned to get together for lunch in the spring when the roads were clear. Don and Donna live in Toronto and Anne and I are looking forward to a pending visit. We have kept in contact over many years.

When we're together there is no thought of intervening years. We had a similar relationship with many in the class and their wives when we got together at our reunion enjoying the recounting of old times as if they were yesterday.

Time passes but friendships do not.

Over my career I have encountered cultural differences toward long standing relationships. An African friend has spoken of his classmate relationships which supercede close family ties. My son's father-in-law in Japan meets regularly with others of his school years and speaks about them as though they were siblings.

A Thai friend is so close to his classmates that they constantly help one another with such things as business or even personal problems.

Family relationships remain equally important. I find myself on the phone to my brother (in his '80s yet!) on a weekly basis. A daughter and her family living in Bolton is close enough that we're able to get together about once a week.

Another daughter in Los Angeles has a neat telephone arrangement facilitating free communication every two or three days. Weekly calls to or from a son and his family in Whitby keep us in touch there as well as regular calls with another in Pickering.

Talking with our youngest son in Japan each weekend is part of our communication portfolio. 'Kids' now are on our network of close friends.

It is most gratifying that phone calls between siblings provide added glue helping to hold us all together.

Modern communications such as the global telephone have made these contacts easier whether using e-mails or phone calls, especially contacts of longer distances. We have been able to maintain relationships with many.

A lifetime of friendship has complemented our retirement comfort zone.