Friends Forever

From chance encounters to apparent destiny, readers share their BFF origin stories

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Breaking (and Taking) the Ice

I started playing in a women's hockey league at age 45. One of the other women and I found out we had lots in common: career paths and our love for hockey, dogs, pizza and wings. We even began playing at the same age. We were defensive partners on the ice and shared countless postgame dinners, drinks and pieces of wisdom over the years. Cheri and I both retired from hockey at age 65 and continue to be good friends.

-NANCY DELLOSSO Weston, ON

A Bargain at Twice the Price

In 2008, I bought a phone case on eBay and had to contact the seller. She shared that she often visited the area where I lived, and we decided to meet for lunch during her next visit. Lunch lasted two hours and we've been best friends ever since. Now, she stays with me when she visits. I always say she's the best thing I've ever found on eBay.

-MARY KREHELY Shavertown, PA

Keep Your Frenemies Closer

I met my best friend, Cindy, in 1974 at the University of Iowa. At first, I thought she was a big city snob from Des Moines, and she thought I was the greenest thing to walk out of a cornfield. But we hung out loosely through mutual friends. When her father was diagnosed with cancer, she asked several of us to help with an anniversary party, knowing it'd be her parents' last big celebration. While making 10 pounds of ham salad, she and I got to know one another, and I ended up staying the longest at the party. She ended up marrying my brother-but we both know we were sisters well before that.

-LINDA HELGEVOLD Irvine, CA

New Old Friends