It was Maggie, my older friend, who was able to make me see beyond the shallow values of my generation.

She says that she and her friends didn't have many material things, but they had great times and valued friendship above all else. Her stories are enthralling, making me long to go back in time.

It makes Maggie sad to see many of the changes that have occurred since the time of her youth. She thinks that kids are robbed of childhood these days, urged to base their worth on their wardrobes and their sexuality.

My mature friend says that maturity is missing in the minds of many adults now, citing Paris Hilton's parents as prime examples. Maggie blames them for allowing Paris to wither in wealth.

In Maggie's youth there were a few neighborhood gossips who thought they were gaining positive status from delivering negative backyard gossip. Oblivious to the fact that they were ridiculed and distrusted by others, they'd spin yarns. She says that their numbers have grown and they are now known as the media.

This story was great! I am 29 and a teacher and am a part of a multi-age social group. I am the youngest person in the group and reap so much great advice and perspective from these women and vice-versa, I hope I bring a fresh perspective to the group.

There is so much truth to what these women are saying. My closest women, friends are older than I am. The daughter of one asked me the other day about my friendship with her mother. She didn’t understand how someone young and hip could have such a close friend who is 18 years older. Some of the gap that she sees is not age but what I jokingly call, juvenile/parental blockage syndrome. Someday she will see just how amazing her mother is, all the wisdom she has uncovered and how contagious her love for life is. It won’t be until she gets a little older that she will stop seeing the numbers and start seeing the experiences. It was funny; I had to remind her that we too were friends and that there was a 12-year age difference there as well.

This story reminded me of a workshop I was leading last year specifically for women who wanted to try new things AND meet other women.

I had a phone call from a women five minutes before the first workshop began. She sort of hemmed and hawed and finally got around to asking the ages of the women who were participating. I looked around the room and said: 30s, 40s, 50s and one 60+.

She was 29, new to town and really wanted to meet women her age. I said come to the workshop and if you think the ages aren't quite right for you, you don't have to stay.

Of course, you know what happened. By the end of the 12-week course she was absolutely inseparable from three of the women. Two of them were in their mid-50s and the other one? The 60+ year old!

I see this happen often: people look at demographics instead of "likeness of spirit" when they are picturing who their new friends might be. It's so much more exciting to be surprised at a friendship....

Thanks for the article! This is so true, but never stopped to think about it. My best friends are 68 and 23 and I am 33. We have the best times together. :0)

I was so happy to see this story today! My 16 year old daughter stood in front of the TV with her mouth hanging open, "Mom, that's you and Penny!"

I am 48, and Penny is 76. 29 years ago she was my boss, and we have been close ever since. I moved 3 hours away 25 years ago, but that didn't matter. She was the first person I called when I got engaged, and each of the 7 times I found out I was pregnant. She has been there for every important event...my wedding, my kids' baptisms, confirmations, and graduations. She and her husband are godparents for our second oldest son.

Penny is the most amazing person I know. She is wonderful, caring, supportive, brilliant, and has a great sense of humor. She is the best role model I could ever ask for. If I could spend a day off work in any way I chose, it would be to spend it with her. We sit for hours and talk about both everything and nothing at the same time...and we laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

I am truly grateful to have such a wonderful friend in my life!

I was wondering about why I had such great rapor with two of my friends..one is 32 and the other is 39. Am I trying to recapture my youth? I will be 60 this year and my children are 38 and soon to be 40.

The segment on the Today Show this morning let me 'exhale'. I met these friends through work and we will remain friends for a lifetime! The mother of one of them sends me a Mother's Day card because she said she knows if something happens to her, Suzette will still have me.

I hope my daughters have friends that are older/wiser (I think my oldest is cultivating a friendship with a woman my age...let's hope!)

I found your show this morning about friendships that span the ages. I noted that Gail Saltz said that men don't have the same types of friendships as women. My husband, Dave of 34 years is 63 and his best friend, Marty is 44. They share their love of the outdoors in kayaking and biking. We are now empty nesters but Marty is just in the throws of two children in college, one in high school and one in middle school. I so enjoy watching the two of them interacting as truly best friends do.

I have a couple of friends that are about 10 year old than I and I am so grateful that Dave can share the same type of friendship with Marty that I am able to share with my "older" girlfriends.

My dearest friend is 25 years older than I. She is the person I choose to be with whenever I have time.Whether we are walking, swimming, biking, having lunch together or just talking, I treasure every moment I spend with Liz. 14 years ago she was my oldest child's first grade teacher and since that time she taught both of my other children. What started as a teacher/parent relationship has become a friendship unequaled in my lifetime. Liz is wonderful. I couldn't ask for a better friend. I LOVE to be with her.

My friends also are various ages. I am 57 and my dearest and closet friends are 41, 72 and 82 years of age. I have been friends with them for over 25 years and we have always kept in close contact, even though one moved away and the other is now a mother of 2 young ones. My oldest friend has become more ill recently and it is harder and harder for her to get out, but we speak on the phone a couple of times a week. I have always had friends of various ages as long as I can remember. I have grown children married and live out of town, but we also are extremely close. I always believed that I rather have just a couple of very good friends than many of acquaintances.

So true! I also want to say, intergenerational male/female relationships can be great, too. I made friends over a year ago with my 70-something year-old neighbor, and he's now one of my closest and dearest friends. (I'm 36) There's enough of an age gap where we can just relax in each other's company, and not have to worry about the sexual dynamics most male/female friendships are fraught with. I stop by for coffee or an afternoon soda several times a week, and it's always a highpoint. I love how much wisdom and life experience he has to offer, and he says I've helped him learn how to talk to his kids more easily! And to think, I used to only socialize with people in my own decade. I realize now how much I was missing!

Very interesting and professional site! Good luck!

I am very much inerested in the transcrip of Mr. Gails segment in the TODAY show, her interview aired from 8 to 8:30. ANY ONE HAS THE TPAE OR TRANSCRIPTS?
pls. thanks
ycwinter@cox.net

Hello im 25,he's 57,we have been friends for over 3 years,and now we have become best freind's.He's just a wonderful person,smart,very mature and sensitive.
I met him on the net Agelesscupid.com three years ago. I am now a happy woman who is deeply in love and planning a wedding ceremony before the end of this year by the grace of God.

Men are not so inclined to have personal relationships beyond sports, and when they are it's usually considered to be unacceptable to a autocracy. Such are the traits as some dominant and immature governments that exist today. Men could learn much from women in this respect.

Thanks for making your content online.

Bruce