There was a time many years ago when finding a phone number was easy. We just looked in the local phone book.

Now, many people only have cellphones, and there is no easy way to get those numbers.

I have spent weeks calling my friend Linda Koehler. I have two phone numbers for her, but no matter how many times I call no one answered and there was no chance to leave a voicemail.

But I’m not giving up. I feel compelled to call Linda because I’ve been thinking about her so much and truly want to reestablished contact.

When I moved from Palmerton to Florida I knew there were a few friends (very few) who would always be close to me. Linda was one I wanted to stay close to because our friendship was precious to me.

I met Linda when I was editor of the Pocono Post and she was interviewing for a writing position.

Although she had no prior writing experience, I was impressed with the family essays she submitted. It made readers feel the emotion she created when she wrote stories about her family.

I didn’t need a writer that knew how to write. I could teach the fundamentals of writing. I couldn’t teach someone how to feel and create emotion.

Linda turned out to be more than an excellent hire that excelled at everything I asked her to do. We developed a deep friendship based on mutual respect. Plus, she was fun.

I believe friendships grow stronger when we are there for each other through life’s sorrows.

Both Linda and Lenny were by my side through the death of my husband. I am thankful for their unfailing support.

Lenny and I stay in touch. But I lost Linda, at least until I find the right phone number.

When I look around my house I see precious gifts Linda made for me. When a windstorm blew a few slate shingles off my Palmerton house Linda used one shingle as a backdrop for a painting called “Answered Prayer.”

That’s what I named my house.

The painted “Answered Prayer” shingle stayed with me for all my years in Palmerton and my follow-up time in my new Florida home.

After Andy died I moved to Florida, knowing I had to make a new life for myself.

But I’m someone who hates to say goodbye. I believe in never saying goodbye to a cherished friend.

A cherished friend is forever, or so I thought. I thought my close Pennsylvania friends would visit me in Florida and we would continue having fun together.

Much to my surprise, only Linda and my dear friend Lenny continued our friendship after I moved to Florida.

Like they say, some friends are great activity friends, but those friendships end when the activity ends.

On the other hand, friends like Linda and Lenny are forever. We don’t have to feed those deep friendships for them to last.

Some people believe we have to feed a friendship for it to survive. Well, yes and no. Many friends do drift away when we no longer meet. But true friendships like I have with Linda and Lenny don’t dry up.

No wonder I found myself longing to talk with her.

I yearned to talk with her but didn’t have an up-to-date phone number.

Finally, I hit pay dirt. When looking through my old telephone directory I found her number.

It was so rewarding to finally touch base.

What I realized with that experience with Linda was that I have to do a better job of occasionally calling friends I don’t want to disappear from my life.

I recalled I promised my friend Fran I would stay in touch with her, but so far I have failed. She, on the other hand, makes sure she sends me notes to stay in touch.

The trouble with life is we get overwhelmed with busy, busy, busy — and that often means good intentions don’t have any follow-through.

It isn’t intentional neglect but it happens.

My resolve is to try to reach out to treasured friends. Perhaps every few months I can get in touch with friends I have been neglecting.

I’m not a gabber. I don’t hang on the telephone with long conversations.

But it’s amazing how good it can feel to reach out to people missing from my life.

Sometimes it isn’t just long-term friendships that are rewarding. Sometimes a strong bond happens quickly.

From the time I first met Ken Ryno, an incredibly strong person who can make you forget he is paralyzed, there was that strong bond that makes even a short telephone conversation rewarding. I think Ken and his wife, Jo Ann, have so much to teach us and I am grateful for every opportunity to share their story.

What I’ve learned is that we seldom tell others how special they are.

One of the things I like best about writing this column is the chance to shine a spotlight on special people like Ken and Jo Ann.

But one of my failings is that I don’t tell my personal friends why I value their friendship.

That’s another resolution I made this year. I want tell to the extraordinary friends in my life why they are special.

It might be a fitting goal for you, too.

Email Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net