Well, there were the four of us and about once a month we’d meet at a restaurant for lunch and trade stories. Sometimes our conversations would get so animated that other diners would stop eating and listen in. Once, friend two talked about Margrit, Ed's late wife that he had told her about. She kept referring to him as "his wife", and I kept saying, no dear, I'm his wife. It was really hilarious. Then we might visit some stores, and stop for more coffee and 4 hours later there would be hugs all around and we’d all go home.

And then after 10 years of togetherness and loads of fun, we are broken. Friend one and friend two no longer talk to each other. I am close to both and will stay friends with both and am really sorry they have decided to be on the outs with each other. I don't want details and won't take sides.

Then friend no. 3, truly neurotic, although I am very fond of her as well – she too was a dancer – born in Armenia, grew up in Paris, studied ballet there seriously. She is also a phenomenal portrait artist. She has drifted away from us. And in later times, would always cancel at the last minute and not join us. Her reasons were often born of hysteria. As I said, neurotic. Since my school days were fraught with dysfunction, this was the first time ever that I was part of a close knit group of women who loved each other and had fun together.

The pandemic has interfered with me seeing friends one and two. I’ll see each separately when it’s safe. We were diverse and this made it all the more fun – Cairo, Egypt, Paris, Germany, and U.S. born me. Sometimes they’d just all speak French and I didn’t mind at all. Ah, well, it was lovely while it lasted.

xx, Teal